Broken Pledge

NATO is only as strong as its 15 member nations are willing to make it. Last week France, alarmed by colonial troubles in North Africa and desertions of native troops in Algeria, announced the transfer to North Africa of one of the five French divisions pledged to the command of NATO Supreme Commander General Alfred M. Gruenther.

The French, who insisted that the German ftrength be held to twelve divisions so that the French would always be stronger, have never succeeded in meeting their 'NATO quota of 14 divisions. First there was Indo-China; since then the French have raided their forces in Europe to provide reinforcements for Africa. Last fall, over U.S. protests, they withdrew the equivalent of two light divisions to garrison Tunisia. To the U.S., which has promised to keep its five divisions in Germany, and to Britain, which reversed a policy of centuries by guaranteeing to maintain an army of 100,000 men on the Continent indefinitely, this was breaking a pledge.

Had NATO's General Gruenther approved the latest shift of a French division, a reporter wanted to know? Premier Edgar Faure thrust the question aside. "All the world must understand," he said as if to explain, "that for us, priority must be given to Algeria."

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