Powers Agree On Formation Of European Army

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 September 1950, Page 7

Powers Agree On Formation Of European Army

NEW YORK, September 26.—The decision of the North Atlantic Tieaty Council to establish an integrated army for the defence ol Western Europe was announced tonight. A communique said: “The Council has agreed upon the establishment at the earliest possible date of an integrated force under centralised command which shall be adequate to deter aggression and to ensure the defence of Western Eur“The concept of an integrated force approved by the Council is based upon the following principles: “The concept of an integrated force approved by the Council is based upon the following principles: “(1) The force will be organised under the North Atlantic Treaty organisation and will be subject to political'and strategic guidance exercised by the appropriate agencies ol that organisation. “(2) The force will be under a Supreme Commander who will have sufficient delegated authority to ensure that the national units allocated to his command are organised ana trained into an effective integrated force in time of peace, as well as in the event of war. International Staff “(3) The Supreme Commander will be supported by an international staff representing all the nations contributing to the force. “(4) Pending the appointment ol the Supreme Commander, there is to be appointed a Chief of Staff who will have responsibility lor training and organisation. “(5) The standing group of the Military Committee of the North Atlantic Treaty organisation will be responsible for the higher strategic direction of the integrated force. “Decisions regarding the allocation ol such forces will be sought from member Governments at an early date. “The use of German manpower and resources was discussed in the light of views recently expressed by democratic leaders in Germany and elsewhere. The Council was in agreement that, Germany should be enabled to contribute to the building up of the defence of Western Europe and, nothing that the occupying Powers were studying the matter, requested the Defence Council at the earliest possible date to make recommendations as to the method by which Germany could most usefully make its contribution. “In accordance with the policy of annual location of the chairmanship, the Foreign Minister of Belgium (Mr Paul van Zeeland) had assumed the chair of the Council for the coming year. “In adjourning the meeting, the Ministers reaffirmed that unity of the free peoples which they represent in their common determination to preserve the peace, security, and freedom of the Atlantic community. Referred Tc' Defence Committee

“Completion by the Council of arrangements for one integrated force must await the recommendations of the Defence Committee on the following points: (1) The Council has requested the Defence Committee of the North Atlantic Treaty organisation to work out the organisation of the integrated force and to recommend the steps necessary to bring this force into being at the earliest possible time. “(2) The Council has requested the Defence Committee to consider the changes and simplifications required in the military structure of the North Atlantic Treaty organisation and related military organisations, and

“(3) To consider how best to ensure the necessary close working relationship between the standing group and the member Governments not represented on it. “The Council agreed that in ordei' to bring the integrated force into effective being all the available manpower and productive resources should be fully used for the defence of Western Europe. To this end the North Atlantic Treaty organisation will consider the precise character and composition of the forces to be allocated to the integrated force by the member Governments.”

Prefabricated Houses The Commonwealth Government has offered to assist the Australian States to secure houses from abroad by extending financial assistance of up to £3OO a house. The Commonwealth and the States have already placed orders abroad for 10,440 prefabricated houses valued at about £20,000,000. The States believe that the State Housing Commissions will find it difficult to absorb more than 10,000 prefabricated houses by the end of 1951 because of the amount of site and foundation work to be done.—Canberra, Sept. 28.