When the 15-nation North Atlantic Treaty Organization was formed 18 years ago, there was no question about its need or its purpose. That was to stop an expanding Communist empire from taking over Western Europe. As NATO inaugurated its new $8,000,000 headquarters in Brussels last week, the situation was entirely different. "Today," said Belgian Diplomat Jean-Paul van Bellinghen, "our only enemies are among us—those who are not ready to sacrifice a part of their independence to cooperate in a common work."
No one had to be told that Van Bellinghen was referring to France's Charles de Gaulle. When...