aim to bring about the disintegration of the Atlantic Alliance. While the Soviet Government had yet to show that it genuinely desired to reach agreement on any of the outstanding points of difference throughout the world, the policy of NATO is to seek solutions to problems by peaceful means. The Council therefore welcomed the steps taken by the Governments of France, the United Kingdom and the United States in their recent exchanges of notes with the Soviet Government to bring about an early meeting of the four Foreign Ministers in Berlin.' The Council also warmly endorsed the initiative taken by the President of the United States in placing before the United Nations proposals for developing and expediting the peaceful use of atomic energy and bringing together the Powers principally involved in order to seek a solution to the problem of atomic armaments.2

3. The Council reaffirmed its conviction that peace and security must be the paramount aim of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It recognised that the increasing strength and unity of the North Atlantic Powers, which must be steadily reinforced, had proved to be decisive factors in maintaining peace and preventing aggression. Nevertheless, the threat to the Western world remains and member countries must be ready to face a continuance of this threat over a long period. The Atlantic Community must therefore be prepared to keep in being over a period of years forces and weapons which will be a major factor in deterring aggression and in contributing to the effective security of the NATO area, and which member countries can afford while at the same time maintaining and strengthening their economic and social structures. Improvements must continually be sought in the quality of NATO forces and to ensure that they have equipment which is always up-to-date so that, in the event of attack, they can act as a shield behind which the full strength of the member countries can be rapidly mobilised.

Within the continuously developing framework of the Atlantic Community the institution of the European Defence Community, including a German contribution, remains an essential objective for the reinforcement of the defensive strength of the Alliance.

4. The Council considered the Report on the Annual Review for 1953 which records the progress in the NATO defence effort particularly during the past year. At its meeting in December 1952, the Council laid emphasis on the development of the effectiveness of the forces. In this respect notable progress has been made. Large quantities of new equipment have been provided to the forces. This has enabled, in particular, many new support units to be built up. The goals established for the current year have been completely

1 See the American notes to the Soviet Union of July 15, 1953, Aug. 17, 1953, Sept. 2, 1953, Oct. 18, 1953, Nov. 16, 1953, Nov. 25, 1953, and Dec. 8, 1953; infra, pp. 1839-1842, 1844-1848, and 1849-1850. See also the Soviet notes to the United States of July 30, 953 (Department of State Bulletin, Aug. 31, 1953, pp. 282-283); Aug. 4, 1953 (ibid., Sept. 14, 1953, pp. 352-353), Aug. 15, 1953 (ibid., pp. 354-356); Sept. 28, 1953 (ibid., Oct. 26, 1953, pp. 548-550); Nov. 3, 1953 (ibid., Nov 30, 1953, pp. 745-748); and Nov. 26, 1953 (ibid, Dec. 21, 1953, pp. 853-854).

2 See President Eisenhower's address of Dec. 8, 1953; infra, pp. 2798-2805. See the Council's communiqué of Dec. 18, 1952; supra, doc. 49

met for the land forces and to a substantial extent for the naval and air forces.

5. On the basis of recommendations made in the Report the Council adopted firm force goals for 1954, provisional goals for 1955, and planning goals for 1956. The force goals agreed upon for 1954 envisaged some increase in the numerical strength of existing NATO forces and a very substantial improvement in their quality and effectiveness.

6. It was agreed that special attention should be given to the continuing provision of modern weapons of the latest types to support the NATO defence system.

The Council noted with satisfaction the intention of the President of the United States of America to ask Congress for authority to provide information on nuclear weapons to NATO commanders for purposes of NATO military planning.!

7. The Council recognized that a long-term defence system as now envisaged raises important military and financial problems. With respect to the military problems, the Council invited the Military Committee to continue its re-assessment of the most effective pattern of military forces, for this long term, both active and reserve, due regard being paid to the results of studies of the effect of new weapons. The Council will be kept informed of the progress of this work and a report will be submitted to it in due course. The Council will also keep under review the very considerable financial effort still required to continue the present build-up, to maintain NATO forces at an adequate level of readiness and to replace obsolescent weapons.

8. The Council heard statements by Admiral Sir John Edelsten, Commander-in-Chief Channel, Admiral L. D. McCormick, Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic, and General Alfred M. Gruenther, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, on the work achieved in their Commands, and took note of a progress report by the Military Committee.

9. In the course of its review the Council considered the Secretary General's Report and welcomed the progress recorded since the last Ministerial Meeting in April. It emphasized the importance of the

1 Secretary of Defense Charles E. Wilson, addressing the Ministers on Dec. 15, had announced the President's intention. At his press conference in Washington on Dec. 16, the President replied as follows to a question on the subject:

"There are certain changes in the law that are necessary before America can realize the full value with its allies out of the development that has been going on since the World War in this field, this weapons field.

"Now, there are no changes contemplated by me or by the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission that have anything to do with the scientific processes of nuclear fission or building of weapons or building of anything else. But where we are attempting to assure the integrity of a line, where we feel that our interest requires to hold it, it is simply foolish for us to think that we cannot or must not share some kind of our information with our allies who would be dependent upon the same kind of support of this kind as we will.

"In other words, it is a very limited field, but certain revisions of the law are necessary before we can do anything, because you must remember that the law [PL 585, 79th Cong., 2d sess., Aug. 2, 1946; 60 Stat. 755-775] was passed under conditions that are not even remotely resembling what they are now. [Footnote in Bulletin, Jan. 4, 1954, p. 8.]

* See the Council's communiqué of Apr. 25, 1953; supra, doc. 50.

work being done to co-ordinate national planning in such matters as civil defence, the wartime control and distribution of commodities and of shipping and other means of transport. Agreement was expressed with Lord Ismay's view that the preparations by member governments in these fields should parallel the progress already achieved in the military field. The Council took note that the problems of manpower had been kept under review and that several recommendations to governments had been approved. Progress which had been achieved this year in preparing correlated production programmes was welcomed. These programmes cover production, for several years ahead, of important ranges of military equipment. The Council expressed satisfaction with the Secretary General's Report on the implementation of the common infrastructure programmes. Besides a large number of projects now under construc tion, no less than 120 airfields and a large network of signals communications facilities are in use by NATO forces.

10. Ministers took the opportunity to meet together in restricted session and discussed informally matters of interest to all the member governments. They intend at future meetings to continue this procedure, which developed naturally from the sense of unity in the Alliance. They are continually mindful of the political links which bind them in an Alliance which is not solely military in character.

52. MINISTERIAL SESSION OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL (PARIS): Communiqué, April 23, 1954 1

1

At a ministerial meeting held in Paris today, five years after the treaty was signed, the North Atlantic Council reviewed the progress made by the organization, examined the present international situation, and exchanged views on problems of common interest. The meeting was attended by the Foreign Ministers of the member governments under the chairmanship of M. Bidault.

The Vice-Chairman and Secretary General, Lord Ismay, reported on the work of the organization. His survey emphasized the effective working relationship developing within the alliance, a relationship which goes beyond the formal obligations assumed by its members. The Foreign Ministers took this opportunity to reaffirm their associa tion in the Atlantic alliance as fundamental to the policies of their respective governments. Recalling the defensive and peaceful aims of the treaty, they expressed their resolve to maintain and develop the alliance not only as the firm basis for the collective defense of their peoples, but also as an enduring association for common action and cooperation between the member states in every field.

After discussing international developments since its last meeting, the council found no evidence that the ultimate aims of the Soviet Union had altered, and noted that the military strength of the Soviet Union and its satellites continues to increase. The council therefore

1 Department of State Bulletin, May 3, 1954, p. 670.

once more agreed upon the need for continuing efforts, vigilance and unity.

The council-reaffirming its long-established position that the institution of the European Defense Community is in the essential interest of the alliance-welcomed the ratification of the EDC treaty by a number of the signatories since the last Ministerial Meeting, which brings closer the entry into force of the treaty. The council also expressed its gratification at the far-reaching steps taken by the Governments of the United Kingdom and United States towards cooperation with the European Defense Community, thus ensuring their lasting and close association with the defense of the continent of Europe.

With regard to the recent declaration by the Soviet Government on the status of their zone of occupation in Germany, the council noted with approval that member governments of the organization had no intention of recognizing the sovereignty of the so-called German Democratic Republic or of treating the German authorities there as a government. It decided that the permanent representatives should draw up a resolution on this subject.

The council, with a view to developing further the habit of political consultation in the council, adopted a resolution on that subject, the text of which has been published separately.3

The council paid tribute to the gallantry of the French Union forces fighting in Indochina. It expressed the hope that the Geneva Conference will have positive results.*

53. MINISTERIAL SESSION OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL (PARIS): Communiqué, October 22, 1954 5

1. The North Atlantic Council held a Ministerial Session in Paris today under the Chairmanship of Mr. Stephanos Stephanopoulos, Foreign Minister of Greece. This meeting, which was attended by Foreign Ministers and Defence Ministers of member countries, dealt with issues of vital importance for the security of the free world, and for the promotion of greater European unity, within the framework of a developing Atlantic Community. In particular, the meeting

1 See British statement of Apr. 14, 1954 (ibid., Apr. 26, 1954, pp. 620-621) and President Eisenhower's message of Apr. 15, 1954, to the heads of government of the EDC countries (supra, pp. 1198–1200).

2 Soviet statement of Mar. 25, 1954; New York Times, Mar. 26, 1954.

3 The resolution recommends "(A) that all member governments should bear constantly in mind the desirability of bringing to the attention of the Council information on international political developments whenever they are of concern to other members of the Council or to the Organization as a whole; and (B) that the Council in permanent session should from time to time consider what specific subject might be suitable for political consultation at one of its subsequent meetings when its members should be in a position to express the views of their governments on this subject." [Department of State Bulletin, May 3, 1954, p. 670, footnote 3.

4 For materials on the Indochina phase of the Geneva Conference of 1954, see supra, pp. 750-788, and infra, pp. 2372-2398

Department of State Bulletin, Nov. 15, 1954, pp. 732-733.

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was called to approve arrangements designed to bring about the full association of the Federal Republic of Germany with the West, and a German defence contribution. On the invitation of the Council, Dr. Adenauer, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, attended the meeting as an observer.

2. The Council noted that all the agreements reached at the London Conference and at the subsequent meetings of the Four and NinePower Conferences2 form part of one general settlement which is directly or indirectly of concern to all the North Atlantic Treaty Powers and which was accordingly submitted to the Council. The Council welcomed this settlement.

3. The Council was informed of the agreement reached between the Foreign Ministers of France, the German Federal Republic, the United Kingdom and the United States of America in regard to ending the occupation regime in the Federal Republic.3

4

4. The Council was informed of the agreement reached on the text of four protocols strengthening and extending the scope of the Brussels Treaty Organization-now Western European Unionexpanded to provide for the participation of Italy and of the German Federal Republic, and on the text of accompanying documents. The Council welcomed this agreement and agreed with the provisions of the Protocols to the Brussels Treaty insofar as they involve action by the North Atlantic Council or other NATO authorities.

5. The Council welcomed the declaration made in London by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany on 3rd October, 1954, and the related declaration made on the same occasion by the Governments of France, the United Kingdom and the United States. It noted with satisfaction that the representatives of the other parties to the North Atlantic Treaty have today associated themselves with the declaration of the Three Powers."

6. The Council approved a resolution to reinforce the existing machinery for the collective defence of Europe, chiefly by strengthening the powers of the Supreme Allied Commander Europe."

7. The Council approved a Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty inviting the Federal Republic of Germany to join NATO. The Protocol will be signed tomorrow by the fourteen Foreign Ministers, and will enter into force when each of the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty has notified the Government of the United States of America of its acceptance, and when all instruments of ratification of the Protocol Modifying and Completing the Brussels Treaty have been deposited with the Belgian Government, and when all instruments of ratification or approval of the Convention on the Presence of

1 See the Final Act of the London Conference, Oct. 3, 1954; supra, pp. 1474

1491.

2 See supra, pp. 483-612 and 1492-1493.

3 Agreement of Oct. 23, 1954; supro, pp. 483-485.

4 Protocols of Oct. 23, 1954; supra, pp. 972-989.

5 Part V of the Final Act of the London Conference, supra, pp. 1481-1483. Resolution of the North Atlantic Council; London and Paris Agreements, September-October 1954 (Department of State publication 5659; 1954), p. 36. Resolution of Oct. 22, 1954; supra, pp. 1493-1496.

Protocol of Oct. 23, 1954; supra, pp. 871-873.

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