U.S. Proposes Changes in Terms of Atlantic Alliance

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22869, 12 February 1949, Page 5

U.S. Proposes Changes in Terms of Atlantic Alliance

NEW YORK. Feb. 10. The United States has proposed to Canada and the Brussels Treaty Powers that two changes be made in the draft of the North Atlantic Security Pact, says the New York Times correspondent in Washington. The first is that the treaty should not come into operation until ratified by all signatories. The draft is now said to be binding when it is ratified .by half. The second proposal is that' there should De no direct or specific reference to "military” aid in the pact. The present wording obliges the signatories to take “military or other action forthwith.” The Secretary of State, Mr. Dean Acheson. is understood to have told the ambassadors’ committee of the North Atlantic Pact Powers (hat the changes would simplify the problem of getting American Senate ratification. Military Clauses Desired

Commenting on the report that the United States has proposed avoiding all direct mention of “military” action in the tentative draft text of the Atlantic pact, Reuter’s diplomatic correspondent says that throughout the preliminary talks on Atlantic Union French and "Benelux” opinion attached great importance to the inclusion of firm military clauses in any Atlantic Pact.

The recent measures for joint military planning by the five Brussels Treaty Powers, resulting in the establishment of the Western Union permanent defence organisation had encouraged European hopes that the Atlantic Union would be a natural extension of the purely European end of the mutual defence commitments of the Western Powers.

The correspondent adds that, consequently, European reaction inside the seven-Power talks in Washington is likely to be hostile to Mr. Dean Acheson’s proposed amendments. The immediate task of reconciling the two points of view, unless quickly resolved, is likely to delay both the issue of invitations to the Atlantic Union conference and a final decision by the three Scandinavian Powers on their individual and collective attitude to the Atlantic defence pact. The impact of the new American proposals illustrates tho inherent difficulties of simultaneoulsy taking into account the requirements of public opinion In the United States and Europe.