September 5, 1957
BRITAIN-WEST GERMANY: London, 4 – West German Foreign Minister Heinrich von Brentano arrived here today to try and defuse the tension that has arisen between London and Bonn. Britain wants to withdraw part of its military force from West Germany. The Bonn government opposes the move, because, despite its efforts, it has only managed to have seven of 12 brigades at the ready. However, in order for Britain to keep its troops there, it must secure the funds to maintain them. The tension has reached such heights that an official Foreign Office statement released this evening said that Britain had yesterday raised the issue of its expenditure on its troops in Germany with NATO and the West European Union. It said it had based its action on Article 6 of the Second Protocol of the Paris Treaty which allows Britain, in the event of financial difficulties, the right to ask NATO for a review of economic agreements regarding the maintenance of its troops in West Germany. Britain’s decision was taken after the West German government refused to continue to pay its contribution of 50 million pounds next year for the British troops. West Germany has contributed to maintaining all Allied troops since the end of the war.
