Conference files, lot 59 D 95, CF 105
Draft Declaration by the Members of the North Atlantic Council 1
C9–D/18 (2nd Revise)
In the course of their discussions in Lisbon the Members of the North Atlantic Council reviewed the aims of their association.
They wish once more to emphasize that this association was formed as a shield against aggression. Its first aim is peace, and the armed [Page 194] strength which is being built up by the united efforts of the member nations will be used only for the defence of their countries and the security of their peoples.
The plan for the build-up of defence forces for the North Atlantic Treaty area laid down by the TCC has been adopted at the present session of the Council in the belief that defensive strength will prove the best deterrent to aggression. The Council has learned with approval of the main provisions of the plan worked out between five of its members and the German Federal Republic for a European Defence Community. The establishment of this Community will help to promote the closer association of the Western European countries and to strengthen the defence of the North Atlantic area. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, respecting the principles on which the Community is founded, will support and cooperate with its institutions. The arrangements to govern the relationship between the two Organizations which have been approved at Lisbon will ensure that in pursuit of the common objective, the defence of the North Atlantic Treaty area, the EDC will reinforce and work within the framework of NATO.
The partnership between the nations of the North Atlantic Treaty exists not for defence alone but of [for] enduring progress. The members of the Council look forward to the time when the main energies of their association can be less concentrated on defence and more fully devoted to cooperation in other fields, for the well-being of their peoples and for the maintenance of human progress in a basis of social justice.
Then, as now, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization will have to play its part, and to this end it has been agreed in Lisbon to strengthen its structure so that it may become a still more effective association of like-minded nations determined to maintain in peace the unity of purpose and effort achieved in the force of present dangers, and to express itself by continuous collaboration on common problems.
The understanding and sense of fellowship which the Members wish to see develop between their countries cannot be achieved by governmental action alone. All citizens can play their part in the work of uniting the peoples in one Atlantic Community which will afford, in ever increasing measure, the benefits of peace, freedom and prosperity.2
-
The earliest version of this proposed declaration was circulated by the British Delegation as document C9–D/18, Feb. 22, p. 190. Subsequently, a revised text, circulated to the North Atlantic Council as C9–D/18 (Revise), Feb. 24, was transmitted to Assistant Secretary Perkins by Sir Pierson Dixon under cover of the following brief note:
“After our telephone conversation this morning I have further altered the wording of our alternative draft, in order to reduce the contrast between it and a communiqué. I enclose a copy of the revised alternative draft.
“As I explained, the Secretariat are being asked to circulate this alternative draft, and to say that Mr. Eden may be mentioning it during the meeting of the Foreign Ministers tomorrow morning.” (CFM files, lot M 88, “London Misc Docs”)
As circulated in the Council as document C9–D/18 (Revise), the revised draft declaration was accompanied by an explanatory note of the NATO Secretariat indicating that Eden hoped to bring up the paper during a meeting of the Foreign Ministers scheduled for the following morning (Feb. 25) and that a drafting committee would also be meeting the following morning to consider the revised version. The latest British draft was also discussed by Acheson and Eden at their dinner meeting on the evening of Feb. 24 (see Knight’s memorandum, p. 154). The text printed here was considered and approved by the Council at its fifth and final meeting on Feb. 25 (see Secto 79, Feb. 25, p. 157), subject to certain minor drafting changes. The drafting changes were incorporated into the text issued to the public on Feb. 26 as “The Declaration of Aims,” infra.
Differences between the text printed here and the earlier revision circulated as C9–D/18 (Revise) are indicated in footnote 2, below.
↩ -
In the previous version of this draft declaration, C9–D/18 (Revise), Feb. 24, the final three paragraphs of this paper appear as a single paragraph reading as follows:
↩“The partnership between the nations of the North Atlantic Treaty exists not for defense alone but for enduring progress. The members of the Council look forward to the time when the main energies of their association can be less concentrated on defense and more fully devoted to the well-being of their peoples. Then, as now, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation must play its part, and it has been agreed in Lisbon to remodel its structure so that it may become a permanent association, intimate but not exclusive, which will maintain in peace the unity of purpose and effort achieved in the face of present dangers, and express itself by continuous cooperation in every field of human activity. The understanding and sense of fellowship which the Members wish to see develop between their countries cannot be won by governmental action alone: all citizens can play their part in the work of uniting the peoples in one Atlantic Community which will afford, in ever increasing measure, the benefits of peace, freedom and prosperity.” (Conference files, lot 59 D 95, CF 105)