Press Communiqué North Atlantic Council Paris 17th-18th Dec 1954

Final Communiqué Chairman: Mr. S. Stephanopoulos. Synopsis Approves measures fully associating the Federal Republic of Germany with NATO - Trieste settlement.

The North Atlantic Council, meeting in Paris in Ministerial Session under the Chairmanship of Mr. Stephanos Stephanopoulos, Foreign Minister of Greece, completed its work today. It was attended by Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Finance, Economic Affairs and Defence Production. The Council noted the Progress Report by the Secretary General covering activities and developments in the Organization during the past twelve months. Ministers welcomed the extension of political consultation within the Council. They noted with interest the steady progress in the infrastructure programs and in emergency planning in the civil field, and recommended the continuation of these studies and of this work, in particular in civil defense. The Report referred to the dissemination of information about NATO and to the forthcoming publication of the Secretary General's Five-Year Report. It also emphasized the value of the visits of Parliamentarians, of the development of voluntary organizations interested in NATO, and of the tours of journalists to member countries. In accordance with its regular practice, the Council exchanged views on matters of common concern in the international situation. The Council welcomed the efforts being made under the aegis of the United Nations for a world-wide agreement for a general limitation and control of armaments. The Council agreed that Soviet policy, backed as it is by ever-increasing military power, continues, in spite of some outward signs of flexibility, to be directed towards weakening and dividing the Western nations. Soviet policy contributes no constructive solution for ensuring world security and for maintaining the freedom of peoples. It provides no ground for believing that the threat to the free world has diminished. The Council reaffirmed its will to build for peace on solid foundations of unity and strength. The Council noted with satisfaction the progress which has been made towards bringing into effect the Paris Agreements which it regards as an essential contribution to the unity of Europe, to the security of the free world, and thereby to the cause of peace. The Council took note of a Progress Report submitted by the Military Committee. It noted with satisfaction that a request by SACEUR had led to negotiations between the Netherlands and the United States, the recent completion of which will permit the establishment of a SHAPE Air Defence Technical Center in The Hague at which scientists of all member nations will be able to contribute to the development of air defence. The Council also noted that the NATO Defence College, now in its fourth year, has made a valuable contribution of qualified personnel to staffs and agencies of NATO and of member governments. The Council considered a report by the Military Committee on the most effective pattern of NATO military defensive strength over the next few years, taking into account modern developments in weapons and techniques. It approved this report as a basis for defence planning and preparations by the NATO military authorities, noting that this approval did not involve the delegation of the responsibility of governments to make decisions for putting plans into action in the event of hostilities.

The Council considered the Report on the Annual Review for 1954, which sets forth the co-ordinated NATO defence programs for the next three years. The Review was based on the Council directive adopted in December, 1953, that it would be necessary for member countries to support over a long period forces which, by their balance, quality and efficiency, would be a major factor in deterring aggression. The Ministers considered and accepted as military guidance a report by the Military Committee giving its comments on the 1954 Annual Review. This report stressed that the level of forces for the defense of the NATO area should be maintained as planned. The Council noted that there had been an increase in the strength of NATO forces and further steady improvement in their efficiency over the past year. This improvement in quality resulted primarily from the large-scale combined exercises held by NATO land, sea and air forces, from the increases in operational and support units and from the supply of large quantities of new equipment. The Council expressed its satisfaction at the expansion of European production of defence equipment as well as the continued provision of North American equipment, and urged continued co-operation in research and development. Following the recommendations made in the Annual Review Report, the Council adopted firm force goals for 1955, provisional goals for 1956 and planning goals for 1957. The force goals agreed upon for 1955 are of about the same numerical strength as those for 1954, but further improvements in training, equipment and effectiveness are provided for. The German defence contribution under the Paris Agreements remains, in the opinion of the Council, an indispensable addition to the defence effort of the West. The Council noted with satisfaction the encouraging economic developments in many member countries over the past year and particularly the expansion of production in several European countries. The additional resources thus made available have enabled further improvements to be made in general welfare and social progress, while at the same time permitting a continued contribution towards increases in the strength and effectiveness of NATO forces. The Council recognized that further steady growth in the economic strength of the Alliance as a whole is essential in order to preserve and increase the well-being and security of all member countries, and that to this end it is necessary to strengthen economic cooperation between member countries.