World: PREPARING FOR THE UNPREDICTABLE

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Re-Emphasized Role. The U.S. moved last week to re-emphasize its role as the ultimate guarantor of peace and security in Europe. Whatever NATO's condition, the Soviets must also reckon that any invasion of Western Europe might bring down the full force of the U.S. nuclear deterrent on the Russian homeland—and World War III. Secretary of Defense Clark Clifford visited West Germany and West Berlin to convey firm assurance of U.S. protection. A few days later, Under Secretary of State Nicholas deB. Katzenbach flew to Belgrade for talks with Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito, who is feeling pressure from Moscow.

Though the U.S. would not automatically respond to an attack on Yugoslavia, as it would to one on a NATO ally, the Johnson Administration nevertheless is eager to alert the Soviets to the U.S. concern. At Czechoslovakia's request, the U.S. had refrained from any public warnings to the Soviets during the tense preinvasion period in order not to provide the Soviets with another pretense for marching into Prague. Silence having proved futile, the Administration is now determined to impress on the Soviets, given their new mood of unpredictability, that the U.S. will stand by its allies in Europe.