the European Economic Committee in the most critical days of the cold war and in the early days of the·thaw, also stresses the decisive significance of political factors: "There is one general point that I believe needs to be stressed in any discussion of East- \vest economic relations, viz, the paramount importance of politics in economic affairs. [...] 1, The relations between the two super-po>re;s and of the alliance systems under their leadership have attained a military equilibrium, An obvious sign of a gradual re-arrangement of European relations is that the leading po>rer of the War~a>r Pact and a European member of the NATO alliance have signed an agreement on the mutual renunciation of the ~se of force, 2, Contemporary arms represent an u. [...] It is, however, evident thP.t the violation of the correct proportions required by the subject of a decision (for instance, the neglect of economic viewpoints in the course of politics~ decisions, or the other way round) results in ~balance, and the conditions thus created will soon need correction or adjustment. [...] If, however, the amount of common economic interests is small, the security system cannot ensure the viability of the all-important mutual guarantees which assert themselves through the altered interest system of the national economies, Without· these the security ·system would be "one- sided" since the "pure" political security in the strictest sense of the 'term is jeopardized by the political s. [...] On the contrary: those countries apprehensive of West Germany's Ostpolitik may stress the importance of the Alliance framework as a means of influence on \I/ est German policy, and for West Germany unaltered loy~:tl ty to the Alliance is essential both to limit the risks of her policy in the East and to allay fears of its consequences in the west.
- Pages
- 17
- Published in
- Italy
