U.S. WELCOME FOR NORTH ATLANTIC DEFENCE PACT

Grey River Argus, 28 October 1948, Page 7

U.S. WELCOME FOR NORTH ATLANTIC DEFENCE PACT

(Rec. 8.45). WASHINGTON,. Oct. 26. American military and diplomatic officials to-day welcomed the agreement in principle of the live signatories of the Brussels Pact to join in a North Atlantic Defence Pact with the United States and Canada. The participation of the United States in such a pact in regarded as assured. Although approval by the new Congress will be necessary, both President Truman and Governor Dewey have endorsed the association of the United States with such a pact. American authorities believe that following consultations with the next President, a conference will be held between all of the interested Governments to work out details of a pact before the new Congress meets on March 1 next. The New York Times, in a leading article, says: The British Commonwealth conference has come to decisions to sanction Britain’s participation in the Western Union. This not only removes any British hesitation, but it clears the way for Canada to become a member of the North Atlantic Alliance, and it should provide a great impetus to both. The paper says: “The sooner the democracies act on their plans the more likely are they to discourage any further Russian aggression, and not only to safeguard peace, but to reduce L,he cost of it”.