Reproduces essays published between Jan. and June 1984 in The times, London.

West and its vital interests /Lord Home of the Hirsel -- Western economic and military cohesion / Alexander M. Haig -- Euro-Atlantic link / Emilio Colombo -- NATO's challenge / Henri Simonet -- Peace and pacifism / Franz Josef Straus -- Problems facing the alliance / James R. Schlesinger -- Conventionalization of NATO strategy / Hans E. Apel -- Strategy and arms control / Johan Jorgen Holst -- Peace : the vital factor / Michael Howard -- From confrontation to co-operation / Bulent Ecevit -- When diversity must prevail / Thierry de Montbrial -- Bring back the spirit of '49 / Roy Jenkins -- Management of economic issues / Robert S. Strauss -- Towards a revitalized Atlantic partnership / Robert D. Hormats -- NATO and American public opinion / Norman Podhoretz -- Tell and trust the people / Lawrence Freedman -- French support for the alliance / Michel Tatu -- Public support for NATO -- a German view / Karl Kaiser -- NATO and the out-of-area challenge / Amos A. Jordan -- NATO's global interests / Lane Kirkland -- Towards a wider peace / Bettion Craxi -- Western alliance : an outside judgement / Abba Eban -- For peace and stability / Mario Soares -- Deterrence and dialogue / Ronald Regan -- Building on the new realism / Margaret Thatcher -- Bridging the barrier / Helmut Kohl -- At the moral crossroads / David M. Abshire -- Pluralistic societies at stake / Sidney Hook -- Appendices : North Atlantic Treaty. A chronology of 35 years of NATO. Statement on East-West relations.