A FREE NATIONS PACT
Sfit,—Your leading article on The Widening Pact makes the case, and a conclusive case, for A ." defence group, conforming fully with the provi- sions of the Charter; which by its unity and resolution can effect what is as yet beyond the world-wide society's power ": namely, to assure the preservation of peace. • But no merely " regional." defence group can assure the preservation of peace and at the same time conform fully with the provisions of the United Nations Charter. By Article 53 of the Charter "no enforcement action can be taken under regional arrangements or by regional agencies without the authorisation of the Security Council" and the fatal possibility of a Russian veto. Why not avoid the veto by making "the widening pact" a little wider still? Why not make the "North Atlantic Pact" into what, on October 29th, you called a "free nations pact," by including aniong. its original signatories one or two States remote from the North Atlantic? Australia and New Zealand, for instance; would, if we may judge from their part in two world wars, fully share the unity and resolution of Canada, the United States and
the Brussels Powers.—Yours faithfully, MAXWELL GARNETT.
37 Park Town, Oxford.
Previous page
