Dutch party may quit if US missiles stationed

May 3, 1982

The labor party threatened to pull out of the seven-month-old Dutch coalition government if the cabinet agrees to station new US Pershing II and cruise missiles in the Netherlands. A pullout by the Laborites, who have 44 of the 150 lower house seats, almost certainly would lead to general elections. Political sources said a decision on the issue probably would be postponed as long as possible to avoid a collapse of the coalition.