Atlantic Pact Draft Now Awaits Approval

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 March 1949, Page 6

Atlantic Pact Draft Now Awaits Approval

LONDON, March 11

“The text of the Atlantic Pact ,is now in the capitals of the countries concerned, but is not likely to be published until all the Governments have given their approval,, which, in the case of France, may not be until the middle of next week,” says the diplomatic correspondent of The Times. “Meanwhile the meeting of the Consultative Council of the five Brussels Treaty Powers (Britain. France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg), which was to have been held in Luxembourg next month, has been brought forward to next Monday for the .purpose, it is believed, of considering questions which will arise in the application of the provisions of the Atlantic Pact.”

Continuous Mutual Aid

The correspondent points out that attention has been focused hitherto on the terms in which the signatories undertake to assist any of their num’ber that may be subjected to armed attack; but if, as is to be assumed, the pact follows faithfully the American resolution, it will oblige the signatories to practise continuous self-help and mutual aid in maintaining their preparedness for defence. That implies permanent machinery for the co-ordination of strategic schemes and for the joint planning of supply. “The purpose of Monday’s meeting of the Brussels Treaty Ministers may be, accordingly, to consider these and other practical implications of . the pact and to reach, if possible, a joint attitude.” The Lord President of the Council (Mr Herbert Morrison),. in the House of Commons yesterday refused to accept a Labour member’s suggestion that the Atlantic Pact should be submitted to the House for debate before it is signed by the Foreign Secretary on behalf of the United Kingdom’ Government. He explained that whatever might be the practice of foreign legislatures in such matters, the established practice in Britain was for the Government to take the responsibility for signing a treaty document, and for the House later to ratify or not to ratify the action taken.

U.S. Military Aid In Washington the State Department announced today that military aid legislation to support the North Atlantic Pact would reach Congress about the same time as the pact itself, early in April. This would be in the form of a global arms aid programme for the non-Communist nations, estimated to cost about 2,000,000 dollars. The programme will provide military support for the nations signing the North Atlantic Pact and for Greece, Turkey and “other areas whose stability affects United States security and interests.” State Department officials said that plans were also being drafted to provide military assistance to Persia, the Philippines, Latin America and Korea. The State Department emphasised that no final figures had been decided, and added: “While it is true that the mutual and self-help concepts of the North Atlantic Pact imply that all members will contribute something to the pact organisation, the amount and nature of the United States contribution will be determined by Congress.” Dr Gustav Rasmussen, the Danish. Foreign Minister, arrived in the United States today to explore the possibility of Denmark’s joining the North Atlantic Pact. He will meet the Secretary of State (Mr Dean Acheson) to discuss the obligations and implications arising for Denmark if she signs the treaty. Offiicals in Washington are confident that Denmark will decide to join the alliance. Washington attaches particular interest to the adherence of Denmark to the pact, because of the strategic im'portance of the Danish island of Greenland to the North Atlantic security system.