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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, JUNE 22, 1984
PAGE 7
As we go to press, the President has apparently prevailed, thanks to a lot
of old-fashioned arm-twisting, even of legislators in his own party.
Nevertheless, the forces advocating phase-down will keep up the pressure,
since, as the TIMES report added: "It is difficult to see how the Europeans
will ever reach the levels of munitions and other basic support systems
that the Americans are demanding and there is little prospect that the
Europeans will meet the demand for a 3% increase in defence spending. The
stage appears to be set for a serious transatlantic fight over the future of
NATO.
II
"European Pillar" Launched
The on-again off-again threat of a U.S. troop pullout naturally has its im
pact in Western Europe. While Mr. Armstrong's party was in Paris, a
very
important meeting was taking place between the foreign ministers of seven
West European countries. On June 12 they cautiously agreed to relaunch the
Western European Union--a long-dormant defense-consultation body--as their
collective voice within the transatlantic alliance. French Foreign Minis
ter Claude Cheysson emphasized that the WEU could eventually become a
"European pillar" within NATO.
The meeting, observed John Vinocur of the NEW YORK TIMES, "was the first
high-level gathering of European leaders to discuss a theme that has become
known as 'Europeanization.
1
The meaning of the phrase varies with the
user, but in general it has come to signify the desire of some European
governments to increase their political role in formulating alliance policy
without alienating the United States."
Some of the members of the WEU--which comprises Britain, Belgium, France,
Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany--are not as excited as
France or Belgium about the prospect of what some call a "NATO within NATO."
In particular, Britain and the Netherlands have expressed reservations.
The British firmly believe that a strengthened WEU could further weaken the
American commitment to the defense of Europe.
West Germany is also known to be fearful of the U.S. reaction should the WEU
structure--to be discussed further at a fall meeting in Italy--appear to be
too independent. Nevertheless, the Bonn government appears to be hedging
its future bets a bit by encouraging greater military cooperation with
France.
In a practical demonstration of French-German cooperation, both govern
ments, according to the May 28 AVIATION WEEK AND SPACE TECHNOLOGY, are ex
pected to sign a joint memorandum of understanding for the development of a
new antitank helicopter by early July. The first flight of a prototype
could be in 1987, and the first delivery--to the French military--could be
as early as 1991.
Also, reports the SUNDAY TELEGRAPH of June 17: "The joint development of a
military reconnaissance satellite is being discussed between France and
West Germany. President Mitterrand wants the satellite primarily to im
prove targeting data for French land and sea-based ballistic missiles. Dr.
Helmut Kohl, the West German Chancellor, is being encouraged to back the
project to obtain advance warning of changes in Warsaw Pact military de
ployments which could herald an attack on Western Europe. Britain so
far
has shown little interest, preferring to rely on American intelligence in
formation."