Show f Substantial Progress for N NATO A T O 0 It seems a rather paradoxical situation situation situation situa situa- tion that while Big Four represent representatives tives were holding secret disarmament talks in Paris just outside that city at Versa Versailles General Eisenhower and his staff were working feverishly to build up Atlantic Pact military strength Yet there is really no conflict In fact there is a close connection between the two projects While optimism over the possibility of disarmament would be out of place the very fact that there was even talk among the Big Four powers on the subject is evidence of at least partial success of the western program to re re- re- re arm Russia no doubt would not even be willing to talk disarmament were it not for the increasing western strength And the west would be in no position to negotiate on the subject save on the basis of craven submission The job of building defens defensive defense e power in the west is by no means finished Nor have we done as much as we might have done or as many hoped we would do Yet our efforts to date have been by no means inconsequential It was vas nearly a year ago when Eisenhower Eisenhower Eisen Eisen- hower hover took over his assignment as supreme supreme supreme su su- su- su preme commander of North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces in Europe At Atthe Atthe Atthe the time he had 10 or 11 divisions at his disposal and they were not well organized organized organized or or- I or coordinated There were five French divisions two British two Amerlean American American Amer Amer- ican lean one Italian the equivalent of one more from Belgium Luxembourg and the Netherlands with a few battalions in Denmark and Norway It wasn't much By January Eisenhower will have between between between be be- tween 20 and 25 divisions They are or orwill orwill orwill will be much better organized This force can give a pretty fair account of itself considering its limitations as to size and Eisenhower says it will fight It will not be a big enough force to carr carry carryon on an offensive ground war against Rus Rus- sia It might not be big enough to defend defend defend de de- de- de fend western Europe against a Russian onslaught But it will be big enough to give Russia pause pause first first psychologically before starting a war second militarily if the attack is launched We Ve have made substantial progress progress in a year To be safe considerable more r progress must be made I Eisenhower says he wants at least another 25 divisions by 1953 And that wont won't be easy to achieve A number of hurdles must be surmounted to accomplish accomplish accomplish that objective One is the problem of trying to get the nations of Europe to establish the six-nation six European arm army which will in effect be responsible to and paid and armed by a supra national authority With Great Britain dragging its feet on this despite the fact that a United Stales Slates of Europe was originally Winston Vinston Churchill's baby this is quite a hurdle to get over Another problem is the utilization of West Vest German man power in the European European European Euro Euro- army army another another matter which presents presents pre pre- enormous difficulties Third is stepping up Americas America's shipment shipment ship ship- ment of arms to Europe Recently it was revealed we were from 24 to 70 O Oper per cent below expectations on aircraft deliveries tank deliveries electronic equipment deliveries and guided missile deliveries Still a a. a fourth problem is agreement on the respective military and economic contributions of the various N NATO A T 0 pow pow- ers There are plenty of difficulties in the way But we are moving ahead And the best evidence of it is that Russia sat down in Paris to talk disarmament Maybe Maybe Maybe May May- be it was only talk Maybe nothing will come of it But we are at last talking from a position of at least incipient strength in Europe There is some hope in Europe some Europe some stiffening of back back- bones And if anything should come conic of the disarmament talks in Paris Paris Paris-if if peace is maintained in Europe much Europe much of the credit for the achievement must go to NATO N A T O. O I |