N.A.T.O. Talks May Be Bitter

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31005, 10 March 1966, Page 17

N.A.T.O. Talks May Be Bitter

(N.Z.P.A. Reuter —Copyright)

PARIS, March 9

President de Gaulle’s demands on the future of the United States bases in France will dominate what is expected to be a long and possibly bitter session today of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s permanent council.

The regular meeting of the 15-nation alliance takes place within 48 hours of the French leader’s note to Washington on the subject. The contents of the note and President Johnson’s reply. have not been disclosed President de Gaulle told a press conference last month that by April 1969 “all foreign elements stationed in France will depend solely on French authorities.” According to latest Washington reports, President Johnson has replied that he would have to consult the other N.A.T.O. members before giving a definite response. The United States position is understood to be that it would withdraw its forces from France, where they are now under N.A.T.O. command, rather than put them under any single nation’s operational command. The French demands affect about 26.000 American troops manning costly U.S. installations in France. President de Gaulle’s mes-

sage to Washington and the French plans to resume control of French troops in Germany—about 70,000 men—are part of his plans to remove France from integration with N.A.T.O. in Europe.