European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 4, 1962, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Fes re Sec t i q n begins 14th year guarding the West Atlantic Alliance was created 13 years ago to oppose the growing soviet threat if dark u. Stilton Morston attend briefing air nato Man Euven. It this one. Allied Force in Central Europe commanded by French Gen with top officer from Germany Holland and the United kingdom. To Southeastern euros he inc duct officers Reffet Enthis five of the 15 nato Natoni. April 4, 1962. The Stais and strikes Roll Virteen years ago today a dozen m. Nations set up the North Atlantic treaty organization As � Western defens partnership aimed at opposing soviet threats and maintaining peace. Since then the organization a taken in three additional partners and demonstrated that to Mears business. Nato to the West s answer to what was going on during the four Yean immediately following world War n. The soviets were demonstrating that they meant business too a they took Over the Baltic states of Estonia Latvia and Lithuania annexed part of Finland and began taking Over the nations of Eastern Europe. In 1947 the Kremlin established puppet governments in Hungary and Bulgaria and the following year in  and Albania were already swept up to the communist political takeover and East Germany posed no real problem to the Kremlin planners. Poland Wax caught in the squeeze play. While All this was going on the red army streamlined its command Structure trained its troops in advanced tactics and introduced new weapons. The strength of soviet military forces in 1948 differed Little from what it had been at the end of world War ii. The West had disarmed rapidly at War Send. Western Europe was Busy with reconstruction economic problems and cleaning up the aftermath of War National communist parties in Post War Western Europe were Active but we eventually rendered powerless As the came to be recognized for what they were. The red takeover in Czechoslovakia an the soviet blockade of Berlin lit 1948-19 awakened the West to the realization that the menace was grave and close the first step toward establishing Nat was taken in 1947 when the United King Dom and prance signed a 50-year Alliance and Mutual assistance agreement called the Dunkirk treaty. Belgium the nether lands and Luxembourg joined this Alliance in 1948 with the Brussels treaty which provided for economic social and cultural collaboration As Well As collective self de sense. The Brussels treaty provided for a join military planning organization headquartered at Fontainebleau. France. Sponsors of the Brussels treaty suggested at the time that the defense of Western Europe could never be fully effective without help from the United states. From the american Side there were both psychological and constitutional obstacles. Some quarters of Congress Felt that Europe should first show what it was prepared to do. And there was the Ameri can tradition of avoiding military commit ments outside the United states in peace time. Last obstacle disappeared when toe us Senate passed a bipartisan Nee Lution affirming american determination to exercise the right of individual or collective self defense under article 51 of the United nations charter. In april 1948 Canada came out Strong Yin favor of a larger Alliance and formal talks began in Washington soon after. Den Mark Iceland. Italy Norway and Portugal joined to round out the original doze member nations. Greece and Turkey joined in 1952, and Germany became a full fledged member in 1955. The next 13 years demonstrated that nato u a genuine Alliance for peace. And since the treaty was signed the soviets have not acquired another Square Inch of territory in Europe. How does this International partnership work obligations of each partner Are set for thin the treaty. An armed attack on one member either to Europe or North Ameri Ca will be regarded As an attack on All of continued on Page if ii