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    "localId": "470154798",
    "label": "Central Intelligence Agency Report RR 36-50, Neutrality and Third Force Tendencies in Western Europe",
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    "title": "Central Intelligence Agency Report RR 36-50, Neutrality and Third Force Tendencies in Western Europe",
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    "seq": 7,
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    "ocrText": "SECRET\nNATIONAL\n4\nRECORDS\nAliso\nLocal Factors. In addition to these over-\nthe eyes of its various advocates, the Third-\nall factors, there are local problems which con-\nForce concept may vary from a distinctly pro-\ntribute to the existence of neutralist senti-\nWestern orientation (Adenauer's version) to a\nment in the NATO countries. In France and\nposition permitting close trade relations and\nItaly, where national Communist parties are\nmore cooperation with the East. Under ex-\npowerful politically and dominate the trade\ntreme nationalist leaders, in Western Ger-\nunions, the neutralists argue that neutrality\nmany in particular, the latter position would\nis the sole means of achieving internal unity\nrepresent a serious obstacle to US foreign\nsupported by all political groups. In Italy the\npolicy.\nrestrictive features of the peace treaty have\nThe more important implications of these\ncontributed to neutralist sentiment, while in\ntendencies toward independence of US poli-\nWestern Germany neutrality is sometimes ad-\ncies, however, lie in the various schemes of\nvanced as the sole means of securing the unity\nWest European integration. Emphasis has\nof East and West Germany. This latter view\nchanged somewhat from the Third Force as\nis also espoused by elements in the Evangelical\nan organization which would stand between\nChurch, including Pastor Niemoeller, and has\nthe US and the USSR and act as a mediator\nalso played a part in the tensions in the West\nto the more recent version, supported by con-\nGerman Cabinet. In Denmark, and to some\ntinental European Socialists in particular,\ndegree in Norway, the profound feeling for\nwhich conceives of the Third Force as a con-\nScandinavian unity is a factor in promoting\ntinental grouping firmly integrated into the\nneutrality sentiment.\nAtlantic community and capable of wielding\nan influence comparable to that of the US and\n3. Third-Force Thinking.\nthe UK. Effective development of the Schu-\nThird-Force thinking in West European\nman Plan establishing a coal-steel pool for a\ncountries differs from the neutrality concept\nsingle market in Western Europe would create\nin that it does not reject participation in the\na powerful economic and political basis for\nEast-West conflict, but rather demands par-\nsuch a movement. Under such circum-\nticipation on terms of equality. The Third\nstances, the Third Force might become a con-\nForce envisages independent policy formula-\ntinental combination capable of exploiting the\ntion for each country, or for Western Europe\nEast-West conflict, rather than supporting, in\nas a whole. Thus it rejects a completely neu-\nevery instance, the policies of the US.\ntral attitude, but encourages policies inde-\nThe national concepts of independent ac-\npendent of and sometimes in direct opposition\ntion, which have found support in the UK and\nto those of the US. It is based largely on the\nin the Scandinavian members of the NATO,\npursuit of national or regional interests which\nand the Third-Force principles held in other\ndo not always conform to those of the US, and\ncontinental countries included in the NATO,\non a general concern over US predominance.\nare favored by the following factors: (1) the\nIt consists of a desire to regain West European\ntraditional national and European independ-\nfreedom of action in world affairs by creating\nence of action that has survived the defeatism\nin Western Europe conditions for exerting\nconsiderable influence in the East-West con-\nof war; (2) the obvious differences in eco-\nflict, or at least of adopting an independent\nnomic, cultural, and material interests which\nforeign affairs role. An example is the UK's\ndistinguish Europe from the US; (3) the prog-\nmore or less consistent policy of remaining\nress toward West European economic recov-\naloof from current schemes for European in-\nery which has lessened, even if it has not\ntegration. In addition, West German Chan-\nclosed, the gap between European and US eco-\ncellor Adenauer has called for the creation of\nnomic power; and (4) the growing belief, sup-\na powerful united Western Europe (including\nported by the shift in the military develop-\nWestern Germany) which could develop into\nments in the Far East, that the US has in-\na Third Force in the East-West conflict, or\ncreasing need of the political, economic, and\nas a \"counterweight in favor of peace.\" In\nmilitary alliance of the European powers.\nSECRET"
}