CFM Files: Lot M–88: Box 151: Secto Cables
The United States Delegation at the Tripartite Preparatory Meetings to the Secretary of State
Secto 85. From Jessup. Following is text agreed with French reservation sub-paragraph (d) at tripartite sub-committee meeting May 2. Comment in immediately preceding telegram.1
“It is clear that the arrangements for its own organization approved by the Council at its meeting on September 17, 1949,2 are inadequate, and in particular that in view of the political, military and economic problems with which the signatory governments are now confronted, there is need for the Council to be so organized as to be able to meet regularly,3 and to give consideration to the wide range of problems arising in connection with the treaty and to ensure the necessary coordination and action. To this end, each government will appoint a deputy to its representative on the Council to act on the latter’s behalf with full authority at Council meetings when the representative himself is not present. The Council at deputy level will normally meet at (blank).
[Page 906]The Council thus strengthened will establish forthwith the necessary executive organization which, operating under the control and direction of the Council, will be responsible for stimulating and coordinating the activities of the entire NATO, and will include general secretariat. The Council may set up such subsidiary bodies as it finds necessary.4
The main tasks of the Council and its executive organiaztion shall be:
- (a)
- To study the economic, financial and political implications of plans prepared for the defense of the North Atlantic Treaty area; to coordinate the work of the Defense Committee, the Defense Financial and Economic Committee and all other bodies established under the NATO; and generally to recommend to governments the steps necessary to ensure that effect is given to such defense plans;
- (b)
- To exchange views on political matters of common interest within the scope of the treaty;
- (c)
- To promote and coordinate public information in furtherance of the objectives of the treaty, while leaving responsibility for national programs to each country;
- (d)
- To consider what action should be taken under Article 2 of the treaty.”5
Sent Department repeated Paris 711.
- Secto 84, supra.↩
- For documentation on the first meeting of the NATO Council on September 17, 1949, see Foreign Relations, 1949, vol. iv, pp. 329 ff.↩
- In the British draft transmitted in Secto 76, not printed, the first sentence ended with the words “… to meet more frequently,” while the second sentence read “To this end, each member of the Council will appoint a deputy to represent him with full authority at Council meetings when he himself cannot be present.” Sentence three is the same in both drafts.↩
-
Paragraph two in the British draft read:
↩“The Council thus reorganized shall be served by a Secretary-General, who, though having access to governments, will be subject to the instructions of the Council and have no independent powers of his own. The Council may set up such subsidiary bodies as it finds necessary.”
-
The third paragraph of the British draft read:
“The first tasks of the Council shall be:
- “(a) To study the economic, financial and political implication of plans prepared for the defense of the North Atlantic Treaty area; to coordinate the work of the defense committee, the defense financial and economic committee and their subsidiary bodies; and generally to recommend to the Council the steps necessary to ensure that effect is given to such defense plans;
- “(b) To coordinate the foreign policy of the signatories in matters of common interest within the scope of the treaty;
- “(c) To study how best to promote publicity in furtherance of the objectives of the treaty;
- “(d) To consider how effect can best be given to article two of the treaty.
In the records of the conference the agreed draft was designated TRI/P/10. Regarding the further discussion of TRI/P/10, see Secto 144, infra.
↩