European Army The European army, of which M. Alphand, the
French repre- ,!mntative, talked to the Atlantic Council Deputies on Monday, Is a French idea—originally called the Pleven Plan—which enjoys Active American support and is attracting increasingly respectful Britiih interest. M. Alphand was able to show that the obstacles to the transformation of the idea into a fact are being overcome with remarkable rapidity. The Paris conference of the countries directly involved (France, Germany, Italy and the Benelux group) has been sitting for some months, and has reached an impressive degree of agreement on the size of national contingents, equip- ment and supply questions; enrolment and training programme, and even on the most ticklish issue of all, which is the maximum size of national units—above vAl of the German units. Agree- ment between national representatives does not, of course, com- plete the solution of all the grave problems of an army containing national units which will often draw their weapons and equip- ment from countries other than their own, and which will often have to take orders from higher officers of another nationality. But somewhat similar problems have been faced and solved, at least temporarily, in Europe itself since the last war, and in Korea. And nobody has yet thought of a better method of over- coming the otherwise insoluble problem of how to make use of German soldiers without running straight into French fears of a revived Wehrmacht. So confident are the members of the Paris conference of ultimate success that they have even discussed plans for a common military budget and a directly elected European Parliament to exercise political control over the new force. Such advances must have impressed deeply -a British Government which was at first almost hostile, then sceptical and at last—if Mr. Strachey was representative of his .colleagues— converted. It is not yet essential for Britain to joint the European army. The decision can be put off until it is proved that the Pleven Plan countries can provide a stronger force than that which already exists in Europe, with both British and American -support. But one of the first and most important tasks of the new Government will be to frame and publish its long-term policy on this vital question.
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