DEFENCE OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC AREA

Wanganui Chronicle, 28 October 1950, Page 5

DEFENCE OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC AREA

Staff Chiefs Agree On Plan WASHINGTON. Oct 26 (Recd 6.50 pm).—The military chiefs of the North Atlantic Treaty Powers announced today that they had reached full agreement on essential steps to be taken for the defence of the North Atlantic Pact area in the event of an emergency. A United States spokesman announced the agreement after a meeting of the North Atlantic Military Committee, which comprises the Chiefs of Staff of the North Atlantic Part countries. He said agreement was also reached cn: (1) General provisions for the appointment of a supreme commander for the European area and his missions when appointed. (2) The establishment of a nnlitary standardisation agency to co-ordinate training and operations, and to standardise equipment. (3) The size of the forces to be contributed by each nation for collective defence of the North Atlantic area. The committee’s recommendations will be placed before the North Atlantic Defence Ministers, who will meet in Washington on Saturday. The Defence Ministers, in turn will make recommendations to the North Atlantic Treaty Council. The spokesman said he believed the nucleui of supreme headquarters for Europe would be established by January. The spokesman said that thinking at the meeting appeared to indicate that the military chiefs favoured Close integration of the three existing European groups—Western Europe, Northern Europe and Southern Europe and Western Mediterranean —but added that the extent of the integration would depend on the decisions of the European commander. The spokesman said no decisions were taken about future relationship with the Western Union militar. organisation commanded by Field-Mar-shal Lord Montgomery, but it seemed the Western Union force eventually would be absorbed into the combined North Atlantic force.