WASHINGTON, Nov. 12--The White House and Adlai Stevenson announced today--after considerable confusion--that he will act as Democratic consultant on pulling the Atlantic alliance closer together.

The confusion resulted from an error by Presidential Press Secretary James C. Hagerty, who told newsmen this morning that Stevenson had refused to do anything more than comment on the program after it was prepared by the administration.

Hagerty acknowledged the error this afternoon, and said that Stevenson would consult on the program as it was being developed for presentation to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization at Paris Dec. 16.

The upshot of the statement was that Stevenson emerged in an advisory role on foreign affairs. It marked his first association with the administration after previously declining to become a member of the U.S. delegation to the United Nations or of a new civil rights commission.

Global Bombers Important, Lemay Asserts

BUENOS AIRES, Nov. 12--General Curtis Lemay gave a dramatic punch today to his claim that the global bomber has not been scrapped by the guided missile. He helped fly a big jet Stratotanker 6,350 miles without stopping or refueling.

The flight, from Westover, Mass. Air Base to Buenos Aires in just over 13 hours, set new distance and speed marks for official nonstop, nonrefueling jet operation.

"As soon as missiles are ready they will augment our bombers and at some later date they probably will replace part of our bombers," Lemay told reporters.

But there still was a lack of "over-all efficiency" in missiles, he said. "There will be a place for the mannedbomber for some time to come."