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3.2 Western European Rearmament (Disagreements about the Korea and China…
3.2 Western European Rearmament
Prague Coup (February 1948) and Berlin Blockade (June 1948 - May 1949)
Brussels Pact (March 1948)
March 17: signed by Belgium, France, Netherlands, Britain, and Luxembourg
The premises of the Pact
Pact members would intervene in case of attacks
Consultative Council was created where the signatory states could express and discuss concerns
signatory states believed that the Pact would be stronger if US joins in
meetings led to the creation of NATO
NATO: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (April 1949)
US saw the need to improve Western European defense
eased the fears of many states, especially France, of a revitalized Germany
US President Truman stated that military help will seek the consent from the Congress
Article 3 of the NAT involved the US into the defense of Western Europe
April 4, 1949: NAT was signed for 20 years with Canada, the US, Brussels Pact Powers, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Italy, and Norway
August 1949: NAT came into force
Pressure for further Western rearmament (FRG)
Soviet strength
Soviets were threatened by NATO and FRG, hence, developed their military strength
August 1949: USSR tested its first atomic bomb
increased Western European rearmament and calls for formation of West German army
Pleven Plan
Rene Pleven created the plan on Oct. 24, 1950
create an army under a control that transcends national power with appointing European powers
Spofford Compromise
Pleven Plan was more into controlling German rearmament than military effectiveness
Charles Spofford, US representative on NATO's Atlantic Council
Apart from the army, NATO would form an army itself in Europe with small-sized German army supervise by the Western allies
Franco-German agreement on the EDC
FRG would be recognized as a semi-independent state
Higher Commissioners and the West German Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer wantedto replace the Occupational Statute
France insisted to restrict German military power
Treaty was signed on May 26, 1952
Chinese Communist Party overthrew the Chinese Nationalists, creating an alliance between China and the USSR
NATO was still young and there were fears of German domination. Hence, the US had to halt the integration of FRG to western Europe.
There was still a huge possibility that the Soviets could persuade Western Germans into voting for a neutral and unified Germany
The impact of the Korean War
June 25 1950: North Korea invaded South Korea
Western Alliance felt threatened
North Korea acted on the orders of USSR
Western Europe might become a part of Stalin's sphere of influence
Ulbricht recommended the same tactic to unify Germany
Disagreements about the Korea and China
PRC intervened in the invasion of South Korea
West Europe feared that the US would pull out of Europe after a war breaks
British Prime Minister Clement Attlee persuaded US to open negotiations with the PRC but the US refused and reassured that the US will not use atomic bomb
Republicans believed that he US must take a more aggressive stance against communism