Western Union Defence Linked With U.S.

Chronicle (Levin), 20 July 1948, Page 5

Western Union Defence Linked With U.S.

Received Monday, 7 p.m. LOXjjOX, July 10. Western. Union Jlanisters wlio are meeting us a eoiisull-ative council created in April under tlie Brussels Treaty, will stuuy a report of tlie perntanent Western Union amilitary c'ommittee which has been in co'nstant session in t.ondon since early May, says Reuter's correspondent attending Tlie Ilague : confereiiee. The cojhmittee has lieen i drawiiig up estimates of what mernber i naiions can aeeompBsh in self -defence 'by; pdoli'ng and nat'iorialising resourees. Tlie council will also 'have reports on eurrcnt talks between tlie American (State Department and representatiyes of the Western Union and Uanada, on li,e possibility of broadening the deteasive military alliance of the Western 4 Union into a North Atlantic regional defence scheme, in confonnity \.th article 51 of United Xations ( 'barter. \ Tlie Washington talks have a vital I taring 011 the German crisis since it .' '::.s been always recognised that only ihe certainty of American military supj [K rt would provide suflieient assurance : lo enable the Western Union to adopt a Hold policy in Europe. The agenda includes recommendaiims for establishing permanent ecoi ra mie, social and eultural organisa- ; :i :iis. The generai discussion on the iPernational situation will give anv 1 • i •mber the opportunity to raise other , s1 bjects. The Xetherlands is believed j to l>e anxious to press for lifting th.e . p esent British embargo on arms for ! Jonesia and for a more exact delinition of military obligations under the Brussels Treaty. The meeting will last two days. The Times, in a leader, says the Russians began the Berlin blockade believing the Western Powers would be found hesitant or disunited. The cause of Ihe Western Union would be seriouslv rctarded if tlie Berlin issue tpi'ned out badly for the West. The challenge reouired an immediate clear decision. Xeither side desired war yet eacli was being* driven on by measures and '•ounter-measures, to a point where an noen clash miirht be unavoidable. Tf Russia intended to attempt to force thc Western Allies from Berlin, no end to Ihe struggle , could Jie seen but if the Russiins were seek'ing to open a new i conferenee on Germany, the Western Powers had nothing to lose bv enquiriug what the Russiana have in mind. The Western Powers, however, must not yield an inch of rights in Berlin.