Title:DEFENCE PLANNING COMMITTEE: PRESS CONFERENCE BY UNITED STATES SECRETARY FOR DEFENCE JAMES R. SCHLESINGER, BRUSSELS, 23 MAY 1975 [Allocated Title]
Film Number:NAT 3318
Other titles:NATO LOG COLLECTION [Allocated Series Title]
Summary:US Secretary for Defence, James R. Schlesinger, addresses the press to speak about the latest Defence Planning Committee held in Brussels, 23 May 1975. Sound and picture are not in sync.
Description:James R. Schlesinger briefs the press on some of the topics covered and agreements made by the committee, including: how the process of new talks "provides for a long range defence concept for the Alliance", current emphasis on deterrence, the future of NATO forces, balance among the strategic nuclear, tactical nuclear and conventional forces, deficiency in conventional forces compared to those of the Warsaw Pact and the ongoing and continuous commitment of US in the defence of Western Europe - provided that European NATO allies continue to supply the necessary resources.
Schlesinger critiques the protection of allied national governments to defend industry. US defends the need for true competition, to obtain longer production runs, to be most cost-effective and hence contribute to standardization. He also mentions difficulties in the Southern flank and the Mediterranean. Ministers shared a variety of opinions regarding the role of Spain, although the US will keep its bilateral relations with Spain outside the NATO structure and will keep making use of the military utilities and bases in the country. In the round of questions, several journalists ask to clarify various aspects of the Spanish topic, to which Mr. Schlesinger answers that US military bases in Spain are indirectly important for the defence of Western Europe.
Alternative Title:NATO LOG COLLECTION [Allocated Series Title]
Production Details:North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Production sponsor)
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. Information Service (Production company)
Cleutjens, Jokke (Production individual)
