Lot 54D423
Draft of Security Treaty
(For Consideration By the Governments of Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America)
The Parties to this Treaty
Reaffirming their faith in the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and their desire to live in peace with all peoples and all Governments, and desiring to strengthen the fabric of peace in the Pacific Area,
Noting that the United States already has arrangements pursuant to which its armed forces are stationed in the Philippines, and has armed forces and administrative responsibilities in the Ryukyus, and upon the coming into force of the Japanese Peace Treaty may also station armed forces in and about Japan to assist in the preservation of peace and security in the Japan area,
Recognizing that Australia and New Zealand as members of the British Commonwealth of Nations have military obligations outside as well as within the Pacific area,
Desiring to declare publicly and formally their sense of unity, so that no potential aggressor could be under the illusion that any of them stand alone in the Pacific area, and
Desiring further to coordinate their efforts for collective defence for the preservation of peace and security pending the development of a more comprehensive system of regional security in the Pacific Area,
Therefore declare and agree as follows:
[Page 173]Article I
The Parties undertake, as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, to settle any international disputes in which they may be involved by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security and justice are not endangered and to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force in any manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations.
Article II
In order more effectively to achieve the objectives of this Treaty the Parties separately and jointly by means of continuous and effective self-help and mutual aid will maintain and develop their individual and collective capacity to resist armed attack.
Article III
The Parties will consult together whenever in the opinion of any of them the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened in the Pacific.
Article IV
Each Party recognises that an armed attack in the Pacific area upon any of the Parties would be dangerous to its own peace and safety and declares that it would act to meet the common danger in accordance with its constitutional processes.
Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall be immediately reported to the Security Council of the United Nations. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security.
Article V
For the purpose of Article IV, an armed attack on any of the Parties is deemed to include an armed attack on the metropolitan territory of any of the Parties, or on the island territories under its jurisdiction in the Pacific or on its armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the Pacific.
Article VI
This Treaty does not affect and shall not be interpreted as affecting in any way the rights and obligations of the parties under the Charter of the United Nations or the responsibility of the United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security.
Article VII
The Parties hereby establish a Council on which each of them shall be represented to consider matters concerning the implementation of [Page 174] this Treaty. The Council shall be so organised as to be able to meet promptly at any time and may set up such subsidiary bodies as may be necessary to accomplish its purposes.
Article VIII
The Parties recognise that this Treaty may be more effectively implemented in association with other States and groups of States not parties to this Treaty. The Council, established by Article VII, shall therefore maintain the closest possible relations with and consult with other States in a position to further the purposes of this Treaty and to contribute to the security of the Pacific area. The council shall also co-ordinate its planning so far as possible with that of other regional organisations and associations of States of which one or more of the Parties are members.
Article IX
This Treaty shall be ratified by the Parties in accordance with their respective constitutional processes. The instruments of ratification shall be deposited as soon as possible with the Government of Australia, which will notify each of the other signatories of such deposit. The Treaty shall enter into force as soon as the ratifications of the signatories have been deposited.
Article X
This Treaty shall remain in force indefinitely. Any Party may cease to be a member of the Council established by Article VII one year after its notice has been given to the Government of Australia, which will inform the Governments of the other Parties of the deposit of such notice.
Article XI
This Treaty in the English language shall be deposited in the archives of the Government of Australia. Duly certified copies thereof will be transmitted by that Government to the Governments of each of the other signatories.1
[Page 175]In witness whereof the undersigned Plenipotentiaries have signed this Treaty.
Done at______this______day of______1951.
- Another
text, also bearing the dateline “Canberra, February 17, 1951,”
is identical to that reproduced here except for one major
modification. Articles VII and VIII are omitted, and the
following passage is inserted between Articles VI and IX:
“(Possible alternate to Articles VII and VIII, to meet J.C.S. comments:
The parties hereby establish a Council on which each of them shall be represented to consider matters concerning the implementation of this Treaty. The Council should be so organized as to be able to meet promptly at any time. It shall maintain a consultative relationship with states in a position to forward the purposes of this Treaty and to contribute to the security of the Pacific area.)” (Lot 54D423)
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