Defense against Gaullist Isolationism

Abstract

De Gaulle's anti-"Anglo-Saxon" diplomacy has made it necessary to rethink the "grand design" for an Atlantic partnership. A possible move in the field of nuclear strategy which might take the wind out of de Gaulle's sails would be the formation of a unified command over Western nuclear power composed of a small group of Americans and Europeans, com parable to the wartime British-American combined chiefs of staff. Failing the prevention of the creation of an inward- looking, Gaullist Little Europe, countermeasures should be taken: The Trade Expansion Act should be amended to permit the President to reduce tariffs to zero if necessary to compete with a European bloc with no internal tariffs and common external tariffs. Most-favored-nation provisions should not be included in treaties and trade agreements with nations which follow France into a protectionist European Economic Com munity. Common policies should be developed with those nations which share the original aims of the Atlantic partner ship. The concept of Atlantic partnership should be widened into a "partnership of the free democracies." Within the partnership of free democracies a system of international pay ments should be developed to protect the currencies of its mem bers from outside interference. In all events, hostile retaliation must be avoided and the paths to peace must be explored.