53. Editorial Note
At the concluding session of the North Atlantic Council Ministerial meeting on December 14 at 5 p.m., it was decided that the date of the next meeting should be determined by the Permanent Council. The Council then revised and approved the communiqué. In his concluding remarks, Secretary Dulles expressed his great appreciation to Chairman Martino and the International Staff for the effective way in which the meeting had been conducted. Dulles stated: “Many people had said that this would be one of most important if not most important Council meeting ever held. Events had proved correctness of this forecast. Perhaps there had been nothing spectacular so far as public concerned. However, Committee of Three Report, if followed up, would be regarded in future as great turning point of NATO. Political Directive also most important and had been most difficult such action Council had taken since Lisbon. Also, as byproduct of meeting, members had been able to bury if not entirely resolve their differences. United States thus regarded achievements of meeting as of great importance.” (Polto 1432 from Paris, December 15; Department of State, Central Files, 740.5/12–1556)