Chiefs Of Staff Meet

Northern Advocate, 4 August 1949, Page 5

Chiefs Of Staff Meet

LONDON, Wed. ( Ip.m.)—The American and British Chiefs of Staff held two secret meetings today to discuss defence organisation under the Atlantic Treaty. When the afternoon session closed after almost six hours, General Omar Bradley, United States Army chief, said:

“I am very happy about the course the talks have taken.

“We have made good progress in a very cordial atmosphere.” Field-Marshal Sir William Slim, Chief of the British Imperial General Staff, said the talks both with the American and Scandinavian leaders had been "very satisfactory from the British point of view.” According to a reliable source a meeting between the British, Danish and Norwegian Chiefs of Staff tonight was arranged on British initiative. It was believed that British leaders had a plan on Atlantic Pact defence evolved from their talks today with the American chiefs. CLOSE COOPERATION It was thought the British wished to sound and get support from the Scandinavians who are seeing the American leaders tomorrow morning. There has been close military cooperation between Britain, Denmark and Norway during and since the war, but it is believed this is the first time their supreme commanders have faced important decisions together. Immediately . after the American chiefs left the meeting today, the Danish and Norwegian leaders arrived at the British Defence Ministry. A spokesman said later there had been discussions of a plan for a Scan'dinavian regional defence organisation within the framework of the Atlantic Treaty. PAVING THE WAY Although no decisions on. Atlantic defence organisation are being taken at the present talks, they are designed to pave' the way for a later meeting of the 12 signatory nations. Asked today how soon a defence organisation would be set up, the United States Chief of Naval Operations (Admiral Denfield) said: "It might be before the ehd of the year. “I should not think it would be too long.” At Buckingham Palace tonight the King received the Chiefs of Staff of the four countries taking part in the talks—Britain the United States, Denmark and Norway. The American chiefs leave for Paris tomorrow afternoon. They will confer in Paris with representatives of France, Holland, Belgium and Portugal, and with FieldMarshal Lord Montgomery.