TIGHTENING BONDS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22586, 15 March 1948, Page 5

TIGHTENING BONDS

EUROPE FIVE-POWER TREATY BALANCING EAST BLOC IN.Z.P.A. Renter—Copyright.) (10.30 mm.) PARIS, March 14. The Belgian Premier, M. Spaak, declared that the Five-Power Pact, initialled in Brussels, “must tighten the lines uniting the democratic countries of Western Europe to counterbalance the eastern bloc.” M, Spaak, who was passing through Luxemburg on his way to the Marshall Plan conference in Paris, added: “That which is permitted in Eastern Europe must also be permitted in the West. Despite the difficulties to be faced in tile pact's execution and Communist Opposition, it is essential that, with goodwill, audacity and courage, we will solve the world’s problems. ’ Background of World Events

Emphasising that the full importance of the Brussel’s agreement for a ftvePower treaty can be seen only against the background of world events, The Times in a leader, says: In its deepest seme ’the new treaty means that the nations of North-Western Europe now recognise common duty and unity transcending old rivalries and divisions of national policy. The treaty is both defensive and constructive, The Times says. It is defensive in pledges of automatic mutual assistance against aggression by Germany or any other Power and constructive in pledges to help one anothei towards a better and more prosperous future.

The Times adds: “With its usual blundering ineptitude, the Soviet official newspaper Izvestia has already written off the treaty as ‘a plot against peace and against the democratic movement in Europe.’ If this is'a convoluted.way of saying that Britain, France and the ‘benelux’ countries intend to direct their efforts against communism and the tactics of Prague, the Izvestia is right.”