Part III
Key Policy
Documents
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Final
Communiqu of the Meeting of the North Atlantic Council attended by Foreign
and Defence Ministers (including decisions relating to the Association
and future Membership of the Federal Republic of Germany)
Paris, 22 Octobre 1954
- 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 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.
- The Council noted that all the agreements reached at the London Conference
and at the subsequent meetings of the Four and Nine-Power Conferences
form part of one general settle ment 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.
- 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.
- The Council was informed of the agreement reached on the text of
four protocols strengthening and extending the scope of the Brussels
Treaty Organisation - now Western European Union - expanded to provide
for the participation of Italy and of the German Federal Republic, and
on the text of accompany ing 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.
- The Council welcomed the declaration made in London by the Government
of the Federal Republic of Germany on 3 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.
- 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.
- 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 Foreign Forces in the
Federal Republic of Germany have been deposited with the Government
of the Federal Republic of Germany.
- The Council heard a statement by the Foreign Minister of Italy on
the recent agreements reached on the Trieste problem. The value of these
agreements from the Atlantic and European point of view was emphasised.
- The Council agreed to hold its next Ministerial Meeting on or about
15 December next.
- The Council reaffirmed that the North Atlantic Treaty remains a basic
element in the foreign policies of all member governments. It agreed
that there must be the closest possible cooperation between Western
European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation in all fields
and that any duplication of the work of existing agencies of NATO will
be avoided. The Council reaffirmed its unity of purpose in the pursuit
of peace and progress. The present conference and the agreements reached
represent a new and decisive step in the development of the Atlantic
Community.
- The text of the agreements and documents will be issued separately
tomorrow, Saturday, October 23, after the signing ceremony.
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