WEAK W. EUROPE “TEMPTS SOVIET & ENDANGERS U.S.”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23021, 11 August 1949, Page 5

WEAK W. EUROPE “TEMPTS SOVIET & ENDANGERS U.S.”

(9 a.m.) WASHINGTON. Aug. 10. Western Europe’s weakness offered a great temptation to the Soviet and was an extreme potential danger to America, said the Secretary of Defence, Mr. Louis Johnson. Testifying before the Joint Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committee in support of the foreign military aid programme. Mr. Johnson said: “Should West Europe be overrun by a hostile Power and should its vast industrial manpower and potentials be added to those of such an aggressor, the United States would stand isolated in a dangerously insecure position. “The United States security, therefore, demands that Europe be safeguarded.” Mr. Johnson told the committee that the National Military Establishment was resolved that American people must never again be forced to undertake another liberation of occupied Europe or mount an invasion from overseas bases which this would necessitate. Speedy Rearming Urged He said the maintenance of the foothold which the Atlantic Pact envisaged would avoid the necessity for such an undertaking. Urging the speedy arming of West Europe to resist any aggression, Mr. Johnson said: “There is a military vacuum in West Europe. which is a great temptation to the Soviet and international communism.”

Mr. Johnson said that integrated plans and unified organisation for West Europe’s defence already existed and were being developed by France, Britain and the Benelux countries which “in event of major aggression will have to bear the brunt of the main attack.” The size of the programme had been kept to a minimum. Any reduction would necessarily curtail the objective of a realistic start in helping European and other participating countries to strengthen themselves.