1.
GV FLAGS FLYING OUTSIDE NATO BUILDING
0.05

2.
SV TRUDEAU AND LUNS WALKING THROUGH LOBBY
0.11

3.
SCU PAN LUNS INTRODUCING TRUDEAU TO OFFICIALS AND THEN BOTH MEN LEAVING FOR CONFERENCE CHAMBER
0.29

4.
CU NATO EMBLEM PAN TO DELEGATES SEATED IN CHAMBER
0.34

5.
TGV PAN DELEGATES SEATED
0.43

6.
SV TRUDEAU TALKING TO BELGIAN DELEGATE AND ZOOM OUT
0.50

7.
SV LUNS SEATED IN PRESIDENT'S CHAIR
0.53

8.
SV TRUDEAU ZOOM OUT TO DELEGATES AROUND CONFERENCE TABLE (2 SHOTS)
1.02



Initials BB/2320 NPJ/PN/BB/2331



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER, MR. PIERRE TRUDEAU, WHO IS ON A THREE-DAY VISIT TO BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, VISITED THE HEADQUARTERS OF NATO (THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANISATION) ON THURSDAY (24 OCTOBER), AND REAFFIRMED HIS COUNTRY'S SUPPORT FOR THE ORGANISATION.

IN AN ADDRESS TO THE NATO COUNCIL, THE POLITICAL ORGAN OF THE 15 NATION ALLIANCE, HE NEVERTHELESS WARNED THAT SOARING INFLATION HAD PROMPTED HIS GOVERNMENT TO MAKE A REVIEW OF CANADA'S DEFENCE SPENDING.

HOWEVER, A CANADIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL EMPHASISED AFTERWARDS THAT MR. TRUDEAU HAD MADE NO SUGGESTION THAT THE NUMBER OF CANADIAN TROOPS IN WESTERN EUROPE MIGHT BE CUT.

IN 1968 CANADA MADE LARGE REDUCTIONS INT HE NUMBER OF ITS TROOPS COMMITTED TO NATO. AT PRESENT THERE ARE ABOUT FIVE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED TROOPS STATIONED IN BASES IN WEST GERMANY.

MR. TRUDEAU IS REPORTED TO HAVE TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT HIS COUNTRY'S DRIVE TO CONTINUE IN NATO WAS RELATED TO THE EFFICIENT OPERATION OF THE ALLIANCE, AND THE LEVEL OF COMMITMENT FROM OTHER MEMBER SATES. HE POINTED OUT THAT MEMBERSHIP OF A COLLECTIVE DEFENCE PACT ALLOWED COUNTRIES TO SPEND LESS ON DEFENCE THAN IF THEY STAYED OUT OF SUCH AN ALLIANCE.

HE ALSO MADE THE POINT THAT CANADA'S MEMBERSHIP OF NATO PERMITTED HIS COUNTRY TO BE MORE INDEPENDENT TO THE INFLUENCE OF THE UNITED STATES -- A CENTRAL THEME DURING HIS EUROPEAN TOUR.