Rebuke to Brussels

Back in Belgium from conferences in Washington, U.S. Ambassador Robert Murphy laid aside the finesse and indirection of diplomatic language, did some plain talking in public last week: "There was quite frankly doubt [in Washington] that Belgium is making a contribution to Atlantic defense proportionate to its wealth and resources. While some countries are devoting percentages of their gross national product up to 19% for defense purposes, Belgium is only spending about 5%." Murphy added that he had also found "curiosity" in Washington over Belgian trade with Soviet-bloc nations.

The U.S. diplomat spoke before the Flemish Economic Association: in the audience was Premier Joseph ("Petit Pere") Pholien, just back from the U.S. (TIME, April 16). Two nights later, at another dinner, Pholien replied. This time Ambassador Murphy was in the audience. Pholien said that Belgium's defense spending "would amount to 5.5%, not 5%, of its national product." He added that it is often misleading to compare defense expenditures of nations in terms of percentages of gross national product.

On Murphy's other point--Belgian trade with the Soviet nations--the Brussels government was silent.

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