Great Decisions 1966; The Atlantic Alliance

Item Information

Title:
Great Decisions 1966; The Atlantic Alliance
Description:
Discontents in the Alliance: de Gaulle and the Atlantic disunity. Economic problems: Inward or Outward Common Market? Disagreements over military strategy. The future of NATO. Different approaches to the German problem. Grand Design or Third Force? What U.S. policies toward the Atlantic Alliance? U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs John M. Leddy said NATO's intra-structure operations base in France could be shifted elsewhere without incurring essential military liability. Mr. Leddy's remarks were made in national Educational Television's "Great Decisions-1966" public affairs series program dealing with "The Atlantic Alliance." The NET program is being broadcast across the country this week on all 104 NET affiliated stations. (In new York City, WNDT/Channel 13, Wednesday, February 23, 7:30 p.m. and Washington, DC, WETA/Channel 26, Thursday, February 24, 8:00 p.m.). In an interview with international news correspondent David Schoenbrun, Mr. Leddy said a French withdrawal from NATO would be unfortunate, but the "rest of NATO can continue. And I think it will." He further affirmed his belief that other NATO nations would go along without France by maintaining that there has been "no evidence that the other countries of NATO want to change fundamentally-and we think we will all stick together on this. And if we do, and we thank we will, we will have an effective, adequate military security system." Mr. Leddy said that while France is an important piece of real estate, "militarily it is not essential to an effective defensive system in the Atlantic and in Europe." Aside from President Charles de Gaulle's objections with the present NATO setup, Mr. Leddy voiced the hope France would continue in the military alliance. He added, "We don't have any specific proposals from him (de Gaulle) as to how he would like to change the machinery or the organization. When he does present these proposals will will certainly look at them, consider them on their merits." Turning to the vital European question of the Common Market's crisis on political aims, Mr. Leddy was "personally as well as officially" opt8mistic that the disagreement will be settled within a few months. He expressed similar optimism about growing sentiment in Great Britain to bid again for Common market membership and speculated that the British effort would mature in a "few years." Mr. Leddy conceded that France could still veto the British bid for the practical power political reason that British membership could be an effective counterweight to French strength. The State Department official said pre-occupation with the Vietnam War "will not detract from our long term interest in Europe because that, as the President has said, is the heart of our foreign policy." Mr. Leddy's appearance marks the third in the "Great Decisions-1966" eight-program series featuring discussion on vital international issues by foreign policy experts and observers. "Great Decisions-1966" is a 1966 NET and WNDT production. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche) Great Decisions 1966 consists of 8 half-hour episodes produced in 1966 by WNDT, which were originally shot on videotape.
Producer:
Siemanowski, Dick
Production company:
WNDT (Television station : Newark, N.J.)
Director:
Myers, Bud
Producer:
Call, Rita
Host:
Schoenbrun, David
Creator:
Leddy, John M.
Date:
February 20, 1966
Format:
Film/Video
Genre:
Talk Show
Location:
Library of Congress
Collection (local):
American Archive of Public Broadcasting Collection
Series:
Library of Congress > Great Decisions 1966
Subjects:
Global Affairs
Public Affairs
Extent:
00:30:35
Link to Item:
http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-512-639k35n623
Terms of Use:
Rights status not evaluated.
Contact host institution for more information.
Notes:
Episode Number: 3