WESTERN EUROPE: Halfway Mark

Foreign Minister Paul van Zeeland put his case before the Belgian Senate wearily but succinctly. “Can we remain isolated? No. Can we defend ourselves? No. Is NATO enough? No.” What Western Europe needs, he said, is the European Army (EDC), with its projected twelve German divisions.

Last week the Senate agreed. By 125 to 40, it made Belgium the third (after The Netherlands and West Germany) of the six-member nations to ratify EDC. Luxembourg was certain to follow suit; Italy’s new Scelba government was committed to ratification. All depended now on France, still tortuously putting off a decision (see Col. 2).