Back to the Beginning
MR. THORNINCROFI'S Visit to the United States has had a surprising result. It seems that a truce has been declared in the long- standing defence dispute between Britain and America. As Britain has made few, if any, con- cessions to the American point of view, this would seem to be something of a victory for Mr. Thorneycroft. Such an ending of hostilities would have been very welcome to poor Mr. Watkinson. The dispute has been primarily over force levels in Germany. The Americans have pressed strongly that BAOR should not only be brought up to its treaty strength of 55,000. but that it should be strengthened still further. That they have now dropped their demands does not mean that they approve of Britain's present con- tribution: instead they have taken a more realistic view of what the Government can do. There are only two ways in which this can be done: either by introducing selective conscrip- tion or by cutting down on our commitments cast of Suez. The first. given the Government's ditli- culties over Europe, is not possible politically; the second is impossible because the US will not shoulder any of our responsibilities. Hence the change in American policy. Mr. Tborneycroft is now left to play Mr. Watkinson's old part. 'Britain could pretty well double her BAOR forces in a matter of days.' This is unsatisfactory for three reasons. It disregards the value of 'forces in being,' on the spot, able to act quickly and in strength. Reinforcement of this nature would be the result of mobilisation, an act that may well have serious consequences at a time of great political delicacy; and, finally. there would be confusion as the families are evacuated westwards at the same time as the Strategic Reserve is flown in. We are, unfortunately. back where we started. The blame rests upon the Gov- ernment for deciding to end national service when it did.
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