The Last Buss

Before retiring as NATO's Supreme Commander in Europe, General Lauris Norstad set out in November to pay his adieus to Europe's statesmen. The farewell was premature, for President Kennedy asked him to stay on temporarily when the Cuban crisis exploded.

Last week, like a diva making her positively final appearance. Norstad once again bade ceremonial leave to his old associates. The warmest and most unexpected leavetaking came from Charles de Gaulle, whose attitude to NATO has not been exactly ardent. At a ceremony in the Court of Honor of the 17th century Hotel des Invalides. General de Gaulle draped over General Norstad's shoulder the crimson sash and golden star of the Legion of Honor, its highest award. Like a courting giraffe, le grand Charles bent to give Lauris the buss that only one hero can bestow upon another.

Later, at lunch in his palace. De Gaulle declared, "You have done everything that could and should have been done in the service of the strength and solidarity of our Atlantic Alliance." Then, De Gaulle proposed a toast: "I drink to our Alliance, more necessary now than ever."

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