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5/29/75 - Remarks Before NATO
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1252338
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5/29/75 - Remarks Before NATO
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President's Speeches and Statements Reading Copies (Ford Administration)
Reading Copies of Presidential Speeches and Statements
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North Atlantic Treaty Organization. (04/04/1949 - )
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1975-05-29
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1975
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The original documents are located in Box 9, folder "5/29/75 - Remarks Before NATO" of
the President's Speeches and Statements: Reading Copies at the Gerald R. Ford
Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box 34 of the White House Press Releases at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
SECRET
MID
If
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS BEFORE NATO
THURSDAY, MAY 29, 1975
DECLASSIFIED 1975
The Public Papers of GRF, pp. 737-742
SECRET
By SR
NARS, Date 10/6/82
- 1 -
MR. SECRETARY GENERAL, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
PRESIDENT TRUMAN, IN 1949, TRANSMITTED THE TEXT OF
THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES
WITH HIS ASSESSMENT OF ITS IMPORTANCE.
"EVENTS OF THIS
CENTURY," HE WROTE, "HAVE TAUGHT US THAT WE CANNOT ACHIEVE
PEACE INDEPENDENTLY.
THE WORLD HAS GROWN TOO SMALL.
- 2 -
THE SECURITY AND WELFARE OF EACH MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY
DEPENDS ON THE SECURITY AND WELFARE OF ALL.
NONE OF US
ALONE CAN ACHIEVE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY OR MILITARY SECURITY.
NONE OF US ALONE CAN ASSURE THE CONTINUANCE OF FREEDOM."
so SPOKE PRESIDENT TRUMAN.
THESE WORDS, DESCRIBING
THE INTERDEPENDENCE OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC NATIONS, ARE AS
ACCURATE TODAY AS THEY WERE A QUARTER CENTURY AGO.
- 3 -
ON THE TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING
OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY, LEADERS OF THE NATO NATIONS
MET HERE IN BRUSSELS TO REAFFIRM IN THE DECLARATION ON
ATLANTIC RELATIONS THE FUNDAMENTAL PURPOSES OF AN ALLIANCE
THAT HAD FULFILLED ITS PROMISES BY PROVIDING FOR THE SECURITY,
PROMOTING THE WELFARE AND MAINTAINING THE FREEDOM OF ITS
MEMBERS.
- 4 -
WE MEET HERE TODAY TO RENEW OUR COMMITMENT TO
THE ALLIANCE.
WE MEET TO REMIND OUR CITIZENS IN THE
FIFTEEN MEMBER NATIONS, BY OUR PRESENCE, OF THE STRENGTH
AND STABILITY OF THE TRANSATLANTIC TIES THAT UNITE US,
AND TO RESTATE OUR PLEDGE TO COLLECTIVE SELF-DEFENSE.
WE ARE ASSEMBLED TO ADDRESS THE SERIOUS PROBLEMS WE FACE
AND TO REVIEW THE STEPS WE MUST TAKE TO DEAL WITH THEM.
- 5 -
RENEWAL OF COUR COMMITMENT TO THE ALLIANCE
IS THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THESE PURPOSES.
THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA, UNCONDITIONALLY AND UNEQUIVOCALLY,
REMAINS TRUE TO THE COMMITMENTS UNDERTAKEN WHEN WE SIGNED
THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY, INCLUDING THE OBLIGATION IN
ARTICLE FIVE TO COME TO THE ASSISTANCE OF ANY NATO NATION
SUBJECTED TO ARMED ATTACK.
AS TREATIES ARE THE
SUPREME LAW OF MY LAND, THESE COMMITMENTS ARE JURIDICALLY
BINDING IN THE UNITED STATES.
- 6 -
THESE COMMITMENTS ARE STRATEGICALLY SOUND, POLITICALLY
ESSENTIAL AND MORALLY JUSTIFIABLE AND THEREFORE COMMAND
BROAD SUPPORT IN THE UNITED STATES.
THEY REMAIN THE
FIRM FOUNDATION, AS THEY HAVE FOR TWENTY-SIX YEARS,
ON WHICH OUR RELATIONSHIP RESTS.
THIS FOUNDATION HAS
WELL SERVED THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH IT WAS CREATED.
IT WILL GO ON SERVING THESE PURPOSES, EVEN IN THE FACE OF
NEW DIFFICULTIES, AS LONG AS WE CONTINUE OUR COMMON RESOLVE.
- 7 -
IN THE TREATY WE SIGNED TWENTY-SIX YEARS AGO,
AND FROM WHICH WE DREW CONFIDENCE AND COURAGE, WE PLEDGED:
-- TO LIVE IN PEACE WITH ALL PEOPLES AND ALL
GOVERNMENTS.
-- TO SAFEGUARD THE FREEDOM, COMMON HERITAGE
AND CIVILIZATION OF OUR PEOPLES FOUNDED ON THE PRINCIPLES
OF DEMOCRACY, INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY AND THE RULE OF LAW.
-- TO PROMOTE STABILITY AND WELL-BEING IN THE
NORTH ATLANTIC AREA.
- 8 -
-- TO SETTLE BY PEACEFUL MEANS ANY INTERNATIONAL
DISPUTE IN WHICH ANY ONE OF US MAY BE INVOLVED.
-- TO ELIMINATE CONFLICT IN INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC
POLICIES AND ENCOURAGE ECONOMIC COLLABORATION.
-- TO MAINTAIN AND DEVELOP OUR INDIVIDUAL AND
COLLECTIVE CAPACITY TO RESIST ARMED ATTACK, BY MEANS OF
CONTINUOUS AND EFFECTIVE SELF-HELP AND MUTUAL AID.
- 9 -
-- TO CONSULT TOGETHER WHEN ANY ONE OF US
IS THREATENED.
-- TO CONSIDER AN ARMED ATTACK AGAINST ONE
AS AN ARMED ATTACK AGAINST ALL.
- 10 -
THERE IS NO NEED TODAY TO IMPROVE ON THAT STATEMENT
OF PRINCIPLES AND PURPOSES.
IT REMAINS AS CLEAR,
AS RESOLUTE, AND AS VALID TODAY AS WHEN FIRST ADOPTED.
BUT IT IS WORTH REMINDING OURSELVES OF THESE PLEDGES AS WE
TURN OUR ATTENTION AND ENERGIES TO THE PROBLEMS WE NOW FACE
BOTH OUTSIDE AND WITHIN THE ALLIANCE -- PROBLEMS VERY
DIFFERENT FROM THOSE WE CONFRONTED TWENTY-SIX YEARS AGO.
- 11 -
AS NATO HEADS OF GOVERNMENTS AND FRIENDS, WE HAVE A DUTY
TO BE FRANK AND REALISTIC WITH ONE ANOTHER.
THEREFORE,
I MUST CITE THE FOLLOWING MATTERS OF CONCERN TO THE UNITED STATES
AND OF IMPORTANCE TO THE ALLIANCE:
- 12 -
-- IN INDOCHINA, THE EVENTS OF RECENT MONTHS
HAVE RESULTED IN ENORMOUS HUMAN SUFFERING FOR THE PEOPLE
OF CAMBODIA AND VIET-NAM, AN ORDEAL THAT TOUCHES ALL
HUMAN HEARTS.
BECAUSE OF THE UNITED STATES' LONG
INVOLVEMENT IN INDOCHINA, THESE EVENTS HAVE LED SOME TO
QUESTION OUR STRENGTH AND RELIABILITY.
- 13-
I BELIEVE THAT OUR STRENGTH SPEAKS FOR ITSELF -- OUR MILITARY
POWER REMAINS, AND WILL CONTINUE TO REMAIN, SECOND TO NONE --
OF THIS LET THERE BE NO DOUBT -- OUR ECONOMY REMAINS
FUNDAMENTALLY SOUND AND PRODUCTIVE; AND OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM
HAS EMERGED FROM THE SHOCKS OF THE PAST YEAR STRONGER
FOR THE WAY IN WHICH IT MET A SEVERE INTERNAL TEST.
OUR ACTIONS WILL CONTINUE TO CONFIRM THE DURABILITY OF OUR
COMMITMENTS.
- 14 -
-- THERE HAVE BEEN STRAINS AND DIFFICULTIES
WITHIN THE ALLIANCE DURING THE PAST YEAR.
SERIOUS
DISAGREEMENTS HAVE MARRED RELATIONS AMONG SOME MEMBERS.
THE UNITY OF THE ALLIANCE AND OUR COMMON RESOLVE HAVE
COME INTO QUESTION.
- 15 -
-- THERE ARE SOME PROBLEMS THAT RELATE DIRECTLY
TO OUR DEFENSE CAPABILITIES.
I REFER TO INCREASING
PRESSURES TO REDUCE THE LEVEL OF MILITARY COMMITMENTS TO
NATO DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE FORCES OF OUR POTENTIAL ENEMIES
HAVE GROWN STRONGER.
WE ALSO FACE BASIC PROBLEMS
OF MILITARY EFFECTIVENESS.
A GENERATION AFTER ITS CREATION,
THE ALLIANCE WASTES VAST SUMS EACH YEAR, SACRIFICING
MILITARY EFFECTIVENESS.
WE HAVE SIMPLY NOT DONE ENOUGH
TO STANDARDIZE OUR WEAPONS.
WE MUST CORRECT THIS.
- 16 -
WE MUST ALSO AGREE AMONG OURSELVES ON A SENSIBLE DIVISION OF
WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND PRODUCTION RESPONSIBILITIES.
AND WE MUST DO MORE TO ENHANCE OUR MUTUAL CAPACITY TO
SUPPORT EACH OTHER BOTH IN BATTLE AND LOGISTICALLY.
THE
PRESSURES ON DEFENSE BUDGETS THROUGHOUT THE ALLIANCE
SHOULD BY NOW HAVE CONVINCED EACH OF US THAT WE SIMPLY
MUST RATIONALIZE OUR COLLECTIVE DEFENSE.
- 17 -
-- IN THE FIELD OF ENERGY, WE ARE STILL NOT IMMUNE
FROM THE POLITICAL PRESSURES THAT RESULT FROM A HEAVY
DEPENDENCE ON EXTERNAL SOURCES OF ENERGY.
INDEED,
WE ARE BECOMING MORE VULNERABLE EACH MONTH.
WE HAVE MADE
JOINT PROGRESS IN OFFSETTING THE EFFECT OF THE ACTION TAKEN
LAST YEAR BY THE MAJOR OIL PRODUCING COUNTRIES.
BUT
WE HAVE FAR MORE TO DO.
- 18 -
-- IN THE MIDDLE EAST, THERE REMAINS A POSSIBILITY
OF A NEW WAR THAT NOT ONLY COULD INVOLVE THE COUNTRIES
IN THE AREA BUT ALSO SOW DISCORD BEYOND THE MIDDLE EAST
ITSELF, PERHAPS WITHIN OUR ALLIANCE.
- 19 -
THIS IS A FORMIDABLE ARRAY OF PROBLEMS.
HOWEVER,
WE HAVE FACED FORMIDABLE PROBLEMS BEFORE.
LET US MASTER
THESE NEW CHALLENGES WITH ALL THE COURAGE, CONVICTION AND
COHES ION OF THIS GREAT ALLIANCE.
LET US PROCEED.
IT IS TIME FOR CONCERTED ACTION.
AT THIS IMPORTANT STAGE IN THE HISTORY OF THE ALLIANCE,
WE MUST PLEDGE OURSELVES TO SIX PRIMARY TASKS:
- 20 -
-- FIRST, WE MUST MAINTAIN A STRONG AND
CREDIBLE DEFENSE.
THIS MUST REMAIN THE FOREMOST OBJECTIVE
OF THE ALLIANCE.
IF WE FAIL IN THIS TASK, THE OTHERS
WILL BE IRRELEVANT.
A SOCIETY THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE
VIGOR AND DEDICATION TO DEFEND ITSELF CANNOT SURVIVE.
NEITHER CAN AN ALLIANCE.
FOR OUR PART, OUR COMMITMENT
NOT TO ENGAGE IN ANY UNILATERAL REDUCTION OF U.S. FORCES
COMMITTED TO NATO REMAINS VALID.
BUT THIS IS NOT ENOUGH.
- 21 -
WE MUST MAKE MORE EFFECTIVE USE OF OUR DEFENSE RESOURCES.
WE NEED TO ACHIEVE OUR LONG-STANDING GOALS OF COMMON
PROCEDURES AND EQUIPMENT.
OUR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
EFFORTS MUST BE MORE THAN THE SUM OF INDIVIDUAL PARTS.
LET US BECOME TRULY ONE IN OUR ALLOCATION OF DEFENSE TASKS,
SUPPORT AND PRODUCTION.
- 22 -
-- SECOND, WE MUST PRESERVE THE QUALITY AND
INTEGRITY OF THIS ALLIANCE ON THE BASIS OF UNQUALIFIED
PARTICIPATION, NOT ON THE BASIS OF PARTIAL MEMBERSHIP
OR SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS.
THE COMMITMENT TO COLLECTIVE
DEFENSE MUST BE COMPLETE IF IT IS TO BE CREDIBLE.
IT MUST BE
UNQUALIFIED IF IT IS TO BE RELIABLE.
- 23 -
-- THIRD, LET US IMPROVE THE PROCESS OF
POLITICAL CONSULTATION.
WE HAVE MADE CONSIDERABLE
PROGRESS IN RECENT MONTHS BUT THERE IS -- AS EACH OF US
KNOWS -- ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT BY ALL PARTIES IF WE ARE
TO MAINTAIN OUR SOLIDARITY.
THIS IS OF PARTICULAR
IMPORTANCE IF WE ARE TO MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER IN OUR EFFORTS
TO REDUCE THE TENS IONS THAT HAVE EXISTED WITH THE WARSAW
PACT NATIONS FOR MORE THAN A QUARTER A CENTURY.
- 24 -
WE SHOULD FURTHER CULTIVATE THE HABIT OF DISCUSSING OUR
APPROACHES TO THOSE MATTERS WHICH TOUCH THE INTERESTS
OF ALL so THAT WE CAN DEVELOP COMMON POLICIES TO DEAL WITH
COMMON PROBLEMS.
- 25 -
-- FOURTH, LET US COOPERATE IN DEVELOP ING A
PRODUCTIVE AND REALISTIC AGENDA FOR DETENTE -- AN AGENDA
THAT SERVES OUR INTERESTS AND NOT THE INTERESTS OF OTHERS
WHO DO NOT SHARE OUR VALUES.
I ENVISION AN AGENDA
THAT ANTICIPATES AND PRECLUDES THE EXPLOITATION OF OUR
PERCEIVED WEAKNESSES.
ONE ITEM ON THAT AGENDA MUST BE
TO ASSURE THAT THE PROMISES MADE IN THE CONFERENCE ON
SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE ARE TRANSLATED INTO
ACTION TO ADVANCE FREEDOM AND HUMAN DIGNITY FOR ALL EUROPEANS.
- 26 -
ONLY BY SUCH REALISTIC STEPS CAN WE KEEP CSCE IN PERSPECTIVE,
WHATEVER EUPHORIC OR INFLATED EMPHASIS THE SOVIET UNION
OR ANY OTHER PARTICIPANTS MAY TRY TO GIVE IT.
ANOTHER
AGENDA ITEM SHOULD BE THE NEGOTIATIONS ON MUTUAL AND BALANCED
FORCE REDUCTIONS IN EUROPE.
- 27 -
WE IN NATO SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE INITIATIVES
IN THESE NEGOTIATIONS IF THEY WILL HELP US TO MEET OUR OBJECTIVES.
BUT THE SOVIET UNION AND ITS ALLIES SHOULD ALSO BE PREPARED
TO RESPOND IN GOOD FAITH ON THE COMMON OBJECTIVES BOTH SIDES
SHOULD BE WORKING TOWARD -- UNDIMINISHED SECURITY FOR ALL --
BUT AT A LOWER LEVEL OF FORCES.
- 28 -
-- FIFTH, LET US LOOK TO THE FUTURE OF THE WEST
ITSELF.
WE MUST STRENGTHEN OUR OWN DEMOCRATIC
INSTITUTIONS AND ENCOURAGE THE GROWTH OF TRULY DEMOCRATIC
PROCESSES EVERYWHERE.
LET US ALSO LOOK BEYOND
OUR ALLIANCE AS IT STANDS TODAY.
- 29 -
AS AN IMPORTANT TOP IC ON THIS AGENDA, WE SHOULD
RELATE
BEGIN NOW TO CONSIDER HOW TO SPAIN MORE-TOLLS
WESTERN SOCIETY AND HOW TO AS SOCIATE IT CLOSELY
WITH WESTERN DEFENSE.
SPAIN HAS ALREADY MADE, AND
CONTINUES TO MAKE, AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO WESTERN
MILITARY SECURITY AS A RESULT OF ITS BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE UNITED STATES.
THE ALLIANCE CAN PROVIDE A
FRAMEWORK FOR AN EVEN MORE EFFECTIVE SPANISH MI ITARY
CONTRIBUTION AND CLOSER POLITICAL TIES
- 30 -
-- SIXTH, WE SHOULD REDEDICATE OURSELVES TO THE
ALLIANCE AS A GREAT JOINT ENTERPRISE, AS A COMMITMENT
TO FOLLOW COMMON APPROACHES TO SHARED ASPIRATIONS.
WE MUST BUILD ON THE CONTRIBUTION OUR ALLIANCE ALREADY
MAKES THROUGH THE COMMITTEE ON THE CHALLENGES OF MODERN
SOCIETY IN COPING WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS OF
INDUSTRIALIZED SOCIETIES.
WE MUST ADDRESS THE ISSUES
OF POPULATION, FOOD AND RAW MATERIALS.
- 31 -
WE MUST FIND WAYS TO STRENGTHEN THE WORLD TRADING AND
MONETARY SYSTEM, AND TO MEET THE IMPERATIVES OF ENERGY
DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION.
WITH THE WEALTH AND
TECHNOLOGICAL SKILLS WHICH ARE THE PRODUCTS OF OUR FREE
SYSTEMS, WE CAN MAKE PROGRESS TOWARD A BETTER STANDARD
OF LIFE IN ALL OF OUR COUNTRIES IF WE WORK TOGETHER.
- 32 -
THESE SIX PRIMARY TASKS OF THE ALLIANCE ILLUSTRATE
THE BREADTH AND DEPTH OF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES.
THEY REFLECT HOW VERY COMPLEX THE WORLD HAS BECOME AND HOW
MUCH MORE DIFFICULT IT IS TO MANAGE THE ALLIANCE TODAY THAN
A GENERATION AGO.
THEN, OUR PROBLEMS WERE RELATIVELY
SIMPLE TO DEFINE.
- 33 -
IT WAS EASIER TO AGREE ON COMMON SOLUTIONS.
TODAY THE PROBLEM OF DEFINITION SEEMS MORE COMPLICATED.
IN MANY OF OUR COUNTRIES THERE HAS BEEN A FRAGMENTATION OF
PUBLIC AND PARLIAMENTARY OPINION WHICH HAS MADE IT MORE
DIFFICULT FOR GOVERNMENTS TO MOBILIZE SUPPORT FOR COURSES
OF ACTION OF IMPORTANCE TO THE ALLIANCE.
- 34 -
BUT THERE ARE CONSTANTS AS WELL, AND THEY ARE --
IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS -- MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE COMPLEXITIES.
TOGETHER WE CONTINUE TO BE THE GREATEST RESERVOIR OF ECONOMIC,
MILITARY AND MORAL STRENGTH IN THE WORLD.
WE MUST USE
THAT STRENGTH TO SAFEGUARD OUR FREEDOM AND TO ADDRESS THE
GRAVE PROBLEMS THAT CONFRONT US.
I AM PROUD OF AMERICA'S ROLE IN NATO AND I AM
CONFIDENT OF THE FUTURE OF OUR ALLIANCE.
- 35 -
AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES -- BUT ALSO
AS ONE WHO HAS BEEN A PARTICIPANT AND CLOSE OBSERVER OF
THE AMERICAN POLITICAL SCENE FOR CLOSE TO THIRTY YEARS --
I ASSURE YOU THAT MY COUNTRY WILL CONTINUE TO BE A STRONG
PARTNER.
- 36 -
ON OCCASION, IN THE PUBLIC DEBATE OF OUR FREE SOCIETY,
AMERICA MAY SEEM TO STRAY SOMEWHAT OFF COURSE.
BUT
THE FACT IS THAT WE HAVE THE WILL POWER, THE TECHNICAL
CAPABILITY, THE SPIRITUAL DRIVE AND THE STEADINESS OF PURPOSE
THAT WILL BE NEEDED.
TODAY WE IN THE UNITED STATES
FACE OUR NATO COMMITMENTS WITH NEW VISION, NEW VIGOR,
NEW COURAGE, AND RENEWED DEDICATION.
- 37 -
AMERICA'S EMPHASIS IS ON COOPERATION --
COOPERATION WITHIN NATO AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
FROM
DIVERSITY, WE CAN FORGE A NEW UNITY.
TOGETHER,
LET US BUILD TO FACE THE CHALLENGES OF THE FUTURE.
END OF TEXT