UNITED OPPOSITION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27038, 24 March 1949, Page 7

UNITED OPPOSITION

MEETING AGGRESSION ATLANTIC PACT PARTNERS REPUBLICAN LEADER’S SUPPORT NZPA—Copyright , WASHINGTON, Mar. 22. Senator Arthur Vandenberg, Republican foreign policy leader, said to-day that the North Atlantic Treaty nations would meet any future aggressor with all the force needed “to beat him to his knees.” He said united opposition to aggression would include that of the United States. “The new defence treaty is the best bet to keep the cold war from* getting hot,” he said. “ I reassert that this is the greatest war deterrent ever devised.” Military Lend-lease Senator Vandenberg, who was addressing a conference of American mayors, said he was reserving judgment on the new military lend-lease aid programme to the North Atlantic Powers until the Administration disclosed details of the programme, but he strongly supported the pact as the best possible peace enterprise in which the United States can engage in the self-interest of its own national security. Congressional and military sources said to-day that President Truman’s goal of overwhelming force to counter any attack affecting American security was at least two years away. The sources expressed the opinion that at the outset American arms shipments to Europe would do little more than provide protection against Communist-in-spired internal uprisings. “ Super Hypocrisy ” Moscow radio accused the western leaders of “ super hypocrisy ” in maintaining that the Atlantic treaty was faithful to the principles of the United Nations. The radio said that statements made by Mr Dean Acheson, Mr Ernest Bevin, and M. Robert Schumann about the “peaceable” character of this aggressive pact “ are so confused and unconvincing as to impress none but the very naive. Less convincing are the western declarations that the Atlantic treaty purues the aim of improving living conditions, and strengthening peace and security. This is a sheer super hypocrisy. Neither peace nor the people’s well-being can be obtained through senseless expense on arming. No armaments race has ever led to peace.” said the radio. Danes Demonstrate A Reuter message from Copenhagen says: Communists in the public gallery interrupted the report to Parliament of the Danish Foreign Minister, Mr Gustav Rasmussen, on the Atlantic treaty. Seven or eight young men lowered from the gallery to the chamber large posters, reading: Youth says no. Wg do not wish to fight for Wall Street.” Uproar in the House followed this interruption, and still shouting slogans against the pact the youths were eV Mr 6 Rasmussen told Parliament that there was no question of establishing foreign bases in Denmark, and he_ said Denmark had not sold Greenland for French National Assembly, by 410 votes to 182, rejected a Communist demand to-night for an immediate debate on the Atlantic treaty.