Final
Communiqu of the first Session of the North Atlantic Council
(Terms of Reference and Organisation)
Washington D.C., 17 September 1949
The Council agrees its terms of reference and organisation. It creates
a Defence Committee, a Military Committee and Military Standing Group
as well as five Regional Planning Groups.
The Council established by Article 9 of the North Atlantic Treaty held
its first session in Washington on September 17, 1949. Representatives
of the Parties to the Treaty attending this first session were:
- For Belgium, the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
M. Paul van Zeeland;
- for Canada, the Secretary of State for External Affairs,
Mr. Lester B. Pearson;
- for Denmark, the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Mr. Gustav Rasmussen;
- for France, the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
M. Robert Schuman;
- for Iceland, the Minister to the United States,
Mr. Thor Thors;
- for Italy, the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Count Sforza;
- for Luxembourg, the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Mr. Josef Bech;
- for the Netherlands, the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Dr. Dirk U. Stikker;
- for Norway, the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Mr. Halvard M. Lange;
- for Portugal, the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Mr. Jose Caeiro de Matta;
- for the United Kingdom, the Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs, Mr. Ernest Bevin;
- for the United States, the Secretary of State,
Mr. Dean Acheson.
The task of the Council is to assist the Parties in implementing the
Treaty and particularly in attaining its basic objective. That objective
is to assist, in accordance with the Charter, in achieving the primary
purpose of the United Nations - the maintenance of international peace
and security. The Treaty is designed to do so by making clear the determination
of the Parties collectively to preserve their common heritage of freedom
and to defend themselves against aggression while emphasising at the same
time their desire to live in peace with all governments and all peoples.
It is in this spirit that the Foreign Ministers of the Parties have met
in Washington and have taken steps to implement the Treaty. The meetings
of the Council showed that all Parties are united in their resolve to
integrate their efforts for the promotion of lasting peace, the preservation
of their common heritage and the strengthening of their common defence.
The main purpose of the Council during this first session was to provide
for its own future operation and, in accordance with Article 9, to establish
a Defence Committee and such other subsidiary bodies as are deemed necessary
to assist the Council in considering matters concerning the implementation
of the North Atlantic Treaty.
ORGANISATION
The Council is the principal body in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
In accordance with the Treaty, the Council is charged with the responsibility
of considering all matters concerning the implementation of the provisions
of the Treaty. Such subsidiary bodies as are set up under Article 9 of
the Treaty are subordinate to the Council.
The organisation established under the North Atlantic Treaty should be
operated with as much flexibility as possible and be subject to review
from time to time. The establishment of this machinery does not preclude
the use of other means for consultation and cooperation between any or
all of the Parties on matters relating to the Treaty.
COUNCIL
As regards its own organisation, the Council agreed as follows:
As decided on April 2, the Council will normally be composed of Foreign
Ministers. Should the latter be unable to attend, their places shall be
taken by plenipotentiary representatives desig nated by the Parties. To
enable the Council to meet promptly at any time the diplomatic representatives
in Washington of the Parties shall be empowered to act as their Governments'
representatives whenever necessary.
Terms of Reference
The North Atlantic Treaty shall constitute the terms of reference
of the Council.
Time and Frequency of Sessions
The Council shall be convened by the Chairman and shall meet in ordinary
session annually and at such other times as may be deemed desirable by
the majority of the Parties. Extraordinary sessions under Articles 4 and
5 of the Treaty may be called at the request of any Party invoking one
of these Articles.
Location of the Council Sessions
The location of each session of the Council shall be determined by the
Chairman after consultation with the other members of the Council. For
general convenience the ordinary annual session should be held at about
the same time and in the same general geographical area as the annual
session of the General Assembly. Other ordinary sessions should whenever
practicable be held at some convenient location in Europe.
Chairmanship
Chairmanship shall be held in turn by the Parties according to the alphabetical
order in the English language beginning with the United States. Each Party
shall hold office from the beginning of the one ordinary annual session
until the appointment of the new Chairman at the following ordinary annual
session. If any Party does not wish to accept the Chairmanship, it shall
pass to the next Party in alphabetical order.
Languages
English and French shall be the official languages for the entire North
Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
Permanent Coordination
Additional political bodies shall not be established unless and until
experience has demonstrated their need. However, the existing informal
arrangement for consultation between repre sentatives in Washington of
the Parties shall be maintained.
DEFENCE COMMITTEE
The Council established a Defence Committee.
The Council reaffirmed that ensuring the security of the North Atlantic
area is a primary objective of the North Atlantic Treaty and is vital
to the security of each of the Parties. It is therefore of paramount importance
that the Parties, separately and jointly,
by means of continuous and effective self-help, and mutual aid, maintain
and develop their individual and collective capacity to resist armed attack.
The Defence Committee should therefore immediately take the requisite
steps to have drawn up unified defence plans for the North Atlantic area.
As regards the organisation of the Defence Committee, the Council agreed
as follows:
The Defence Committee will be composed of one representative from each
Party. These representatives will normally be Defence Ministers. In any
case where this is not possible, another representative may be designated.
Terms of Reference
The Defence Committee shall recommend measures for the implementation
of Articles 3 and 5 in accordance with general policy guidance given by
the Council.
Time and Frequency of Sessions
The Defence Committee shall be convened by the Chairman and shall meet
in ordinary session annually and at such other times as it may be requested
to meet by the Council or as may be deemed desirable by the majority of
the members of the Defence Committee.
Location
The location of each session of the Defence Committee shall be determined
by the Chairman in consultation with the members of the Committee.
Chairmanship
Chairmanship shall be held in turn by the Parties according to the alphabetical
order in the English language beginning with the United States. Each Party
shall hold office from the beginning of one ordinary annual session until
the appointment of the new Chairman at the following ordinary annual session.
If any Party does not wish to accept the Chairmanship, it shall pass to
the next Party in alphabetical order.
The Council suggested to the Defence Committee the general outline of
those subsidiary military bodies which it considered appropriate for the
task of aiding the Defence Committee in recommending measures for the
implementation of Articles 3 and 5 of the Treaty. The Defence Committee
was invited, among other things, to consider the question of these subsidiary
bodies in detail and to elaborate on the general provisions suggested
by the Council for each body.
The Council suggested in general terms that the military organisation
should include the following:
MILITARY COMMITTEE
The Defence Committee should establish a Military Committee composed
of one military representative from each Party. These representatives
should be Chiefs-of-Staff or their representatives.
(Iceland, having no military establishment, may, if it so desires, be
represented by a civilian official.)
Terms of Reference
The Military Committee should:
- provide general policy guidance of a military nature to its Standing
Group;
- advise the Defence Committee and other agencies on military matters
as appropriate;
- recommend to the Defence Committee military measures for the unified
defence of the North Atlantic area.
Location
The Military Committee should normally meet in Washington.
Standing group
In order to facilitate the rapid and efficient conduct of the work of
the Military Committee, there should be set up a sub-committee of that
body to be known as the ``Standing Group''.
The Standing Group should be composed of one representative each of France,
the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Terms of Reference
The Standing Group, in accordance with general policy guidance provided
by the Military Committee, should provide such specific policy guidance
and information of a military nature to the Regional Planning Groups and
any other bodies of the organisation as is necessary for their work.
To achieve the unified defence of the North Atlantic area, the Standing
Group should coordinate and integrate the defence plans originating in
the Regional Planning Groups, and should make appropriate recommendations
thereon to the Military Committee.
The Standing Group should recommend to the Military Committee those matters
on which the Standing Group should be authorised to take action in the
name of the Military Committee within the framework of approved policy.
It is recognised that it is the responsibility of individual governments
to provide for the implementation of plans to which they have agreed.
It is further recognised that it is the primary responsibility of the
Regional Planning Groups to prepare plans for the defence of their respective
regions.
Subject to these principles, it is understood that before the Standing
Group makes recommendations on any plan or course of action involving
use of forces, facilities, or resources of a Party not represented on
the Standing Group, going beyond or differing from arrangements previously
agreed by the Party concerned, the Party should have the right to participate
in the Standing Group in the work of formulating such recommendations.
It is also understood that when communicating their regional plans to
the Standing Group, the Regional Planning Groups should be entitled to
have their plans presented and explained by any of their members and not
necessarily by a member of the Standing Group.
Time and Frequency of Sessions
The Standing Group should be so organised as to function con tinuously.
Location
The permanent site of the Standing Group should be in Washington.
Permanent Representation
In order to maintain close contact with the Standing Group, a Party
not represented thereon may appoint a special representative to provide
permanent liaison with the Standing Group.
REGIONAL PLANNING GROUPS
In order to ensure speedy and efficient planning of the unified defence
of the whole North Atlantic area there should be established Regional
Planning Groups on a geographical basis.
It should be provided that:
- Before any Regional Planning Group makes any recommen dations affecting
the defence of the territory or involving the use of forces, facilities,
or resources of any Party not a member of that Group, that Party should
have the right to participate in the Group in the work of formulating
such recommendations.
- Any Group which considers that a Party not a member of the Group
can contribute to the defence planning of that Group's region, can call
upon that Party to join in the planning as appropriate.
COMPOSITION
Northern European Regional Planning Group
Denmark, Norway, and the United Kingdom.
The United States has been requested and has agreed to participate actively
in the defence planning as appropriate.
Other Parties may participate under the provisions listed above.
Western European Planning Group
Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
Canada and the United States have been requested and have agreed to participate
actively in the defence planning as appropriate. Other Parties may, and
particularly Denmark and Italy will, participate under the provisions
listed above.
Southern European - Western Mediterranean Regional Planning Group
France, Italy and the United Kingdom.
The United States has been requested and has agreed to partici pate actively
in the defence planning as appropriate.
Other Parties may participate under the provisions listed above.
It is recognised that there are problems which are clearly common to the
defence of the areas covered by the three European regional groups. It
is therefore important that arrangements be made by the Defence Committee
with a view to ensuring full cooperation between two, or if the need arises,
all three groups.
Canadian-United States Regional Planning Group
Canada and the United States.
Other Parties may participate under the provisions listed above.
North Atlantic Ocean Regional Planning Group
Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, the Netherlands,
Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The responsibilities for planning the defences in the North Atlantic Ocean
cannot be shared equally by all members of the Group. On the other hand,
these responsibilities can to some extent be divided along functional
lines and allocated to those Parties who are best able to perform the
respective defence functions. Therefore, the North Atlantic Ocean Regional
Planning Group, when it meets, should establish a series of planning sub-groups
related to specific functions of defence. The Group should determine on
which sub-group or sub-groups each Party should sit, and the arrangements
necessary to ensure coordination between these sub-groups in the interest
of speedy and effective planning.
Terms of Reference
Each Regional Planning Group should:
- develop and recommend to the Military Committee through the Standing
Group plans for the defence of the region;
- cooperate with the other Regional Planning Groups with a view to
eliminating conflict in, and ensuring harmony among, the various regional
plans.
Location
The Defence Committee should consider the question of the loc-
ation of the Regional Planning Groups.
The Council recognises that the question of military production and supply
is an integral part of the whole problem of the defence of the North Atlantic
area. Consequently, there shall be established as soon as possible appropriate
machinery to consider these matters. The details of organisation of this
machinery, terms of reference, etc. shall be studied forthwith by a working
group which shall submit recommendations to the Defence Committee or to
the Council.
The Council recognises the importance of economic and financial factors
in the development and implementation of military plans for the defence
of the North Atlantic area.
Consequently, there shall be established as soon as possible appropriate
machinery to consider these matters. The details of organisation of this
machinery, terms of reference, etc. shall be studied forthwith by a working
group which shall submit recommendations to the Council.
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