ALMOST COMPLETED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26719, 13 March 1948, Page 7

ALMOST COMPLETED

PACT FOR WESTERN UNION NEW SPHERE OF MUTUAL PROFIT N.Z.P.A.—Copyright

Rec. 8 p.m. LONDON, Mar. 11. The delegates of Britain, France, and the Benelux countries announced that they expected to complete the 50-year military, political, and economic pact for a Western union to-morrow. They were awaiting instructions from some Governments on one or two minor points and hoped to hold the final meeting to-morrow. The Associated Press correspondent says the pact commits the signatories unequivocally to Western ideas of democracy and groups them into a great sphere of mutual profit and development, including the world’s greatest colonial possessions. The British United Press correspondent says the mutual aid clause calls for automatic military assistance in the event of aggression. It is believed that it has been worded loosely to enable the insertion of more specific clauses later.

Reuter’s correspondent says that conference circles said the pact would be signed at Brussels on Wednesday. It is believed that Field-marshal Lord Montgomery, during his visit to Brussels at the end of March, will hold staff talks with Belgian military chiefs.