The Future of EDC

New Zealand Listener, Volume 30, Issue 764, 12 March 1954, Page 16

The Future of EDC

the week ... is the news that the Lower House of the West German Parliament has voted for German rearmament and participation in the European Defence Community. In this alphabetical age, this has come to be known as EDC. EDC consists of France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and West Germany. Or, rather . .. it may consist of these countries if they ratify it. 4 {HE most important news of EDC is an arrangement for the defence of West Europe with a common army in which French soldiers will train and fight beside German soldiers and beside Dutch soldiers, and so on, under a joint command. There’s only one part of the world in which decision in a war could be reached between the West and Russia-that is Europe. The West must hold its half of Europe to keep the balance of power. Russia must seize that half of Europe if she is to have any hope of victory in a war. If Russia were able to acquire the Ruhr and the Saar she would add enough to her strength

-- -- a] to give her a chance of victory. Without the Ruhr and the Saar, she has no chance, no matter where else in the world she may spread. Western Europe can’t be defended without German help. The West needs at least twelve divisions more than the other five members of EDC can supply, even with British and American help. Therefore, Germany must be allowed to rearm. Naturally, Germany’s neighbours don’t like the idea, especially France. That’s why when America made it clear that Germany would have to be allowed to rearm the. French got the idea of EDC. It was their way of making the best of a bad job. In fact, when EDC. was first suggested four years ago the French felt themselves to be between the Devil and EDC-that is, between German rearmament without EDC, or German rearmament within EDC. Then, of course, the pressure was on. A good many people, especially in Europe, were afraid of a Russian attack, and were willing to do almost anything to avert it. Since then, the pressure has been slackening. Probably that’s why the other partners in EDC have been able to hold off rati- fying the Treaty. . . Not one of the Parliaments of the six nations has yet ratified the Treaty; France espegially, is anxious to do everything she can to avoid ratifying it. At the moment, she’s being pushed very hard, -Sir Winston Churchill, at Bermuda, told the French that they "simply must" ratify EDC. Mr. John Foster Dulles, America’s Sec-. retary of State, told them that if they didn’t ratify EDC America would be forced into what he.called "an agonising reappraisal of her policy towards Wes‘tern Europe." Of course, the French were offended. Most of us are apt to be offended. when somebody pushes some facts in front of us that we'd Tather not face. Yet, something eipdlied in’ America nine months ago which made ratification of EDC absolutely imperative. The American Congress, which was becoming impatient with all this shilly-shally-ing in Europe, passed a measure known as the Richards Amendment, which makes half the funds provided by. America for military aid to Western Europe payable only to EDC.’ That’ means that unless EDC is formed soon, Western Europe will have to do without about 2,000,000,000 dollars, and nobody inside America or outside it will’ be able to do anything about it if EDC is not formed soon. President Eisenhower and Mr. Dulles both tried to have the Amendment amended so that the last word would be left with the President to use the funds as he saw fit, but Congress wouldn’t have a bit of it. Now, it’s easy to understand why France should not want to see Germany rearmed, and is afraid that Germany will dominate EDC. She’s had very painful experience of what an armed Germany can do. But the point is that if Western Europe is to be defended, Germany must be rearmed. And if she isn’t rearmed within EDC she will rearm herself outside it, which, from their point of view, wonjd be a gone desi. worse. Time is vunniny out. The results of the Richards ‘Amendment ™~ Short’ Pay- |

ments will soon begin to be felt. It came into effect about the beginning of this year. And when Germany ratifies EDC, as she is about to do, the whole responsibility will be left ‘with the other five Powers. . . The new Italian Government, like the previous Italian Governments, is pledged to ratify it, and I think I’m right in saying that recently the Netherlands and Belgium have signified their firm intention to do the same. In the end the responsibilities will come down on France. It’s a pretty heavy responsibility because if EDC can’t be got going Europe can’t be effectively defended, and America will begin to feel that she can’t discharge her guarantee to Western Europe under the North Atlantic Treaty. And, after all, America’s guarantee to Europe, with which Britain and Canada are joined, is the biggest thing in modern history. If a guarantee like this had been in force in 1914 and in 1939 the world would have been spared two world wars.

R. M.

HUTTON-POTTS

February 28, 1954

Extracts from a recent commentary on the international news, broadcast from the Main National Stations of the NZBS