Show A United Stand for fot Free Government Five European nations Britain France Belgium the Netherlands and Luxembourg have agreed on a form of united action which may well prove a powerful countermove to to to- the onward march of Russian Communism in Europe These five countries in a meeting at B Brussels agreed on a treaty of economic and political cooperation Other nations of western Europe except for any which have totalitarian governments will be invited to join It is anticipated that this treaty will be the cornerstone of the proposed western European union which has been advocated as the only final answer to European rehabilitation and the preservation of free fre government on the continent The prohibition against inclusion of of any totalitarian ian co countries is significant It would bar Franco IFranco Spain Spain which which country was specifically mentioned as asin in in- in eligible It would bar any western European European European Euro Euro- country which fell under Communist Communist domination Of course it is one thing to agree on economic and political cooperation on paper paper another another to carry such cooperation cooperation cooperation tion out in practice But the speed with which the agreement was reached indicates indicates indicates in in- that these key European countries countries countries coun coun- tries are intent on accomplishing a degree of united action which will offset the threat of the Soviet eastern ern European bloc While the treaty does not specifically provide for military cooperation it is obvious obvious ob ob- ob- ob that political and economic cooperation cooperation cooperation coop coop- will encourage united defense ac ac- ac- ac tion A united western Europe would be bea a strong bulwark against Communist ex ex- ex- ex It increases the chances for a a. a successful European recovery program The agreement is one which will have whole-hearted whole American approval |