Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Western European Integration and Security, Canada, Volume VII, Part 1

243. Telegram From the Delegation at the North Atlantic Council Ministerial Meeting to the Department of State⁰

Paris, December 18, 1959, 5 p.m.

Polto 1180. From USDel. Following is resolution on defense (C–M(59)24) adopted by Ministerial NAC on December 17, 1959:¹

Begin Text.

The North Atlantic Council

1. Having taken cognizance of the report on the 1959 Annual Review and of the Military Committee’s comments on the results of the review contained in MC 39/11;²

2. Considering that any deterioration in the current military posture of the Alliance would jeopardise the security of member countries;

3. Adopts as firm goals the force plans for 1960, indicated by countries in their replies to the 1959 Annual Review Questionnaire (1) and recapitulated in the summary force tables (2), to which each country has committed itself;³

4. Having noted the provisional goals for 1961 and the planning goals for 1962 indicated by member countries in their replies to the 1959 Annual Review Questionnaire, emphasises that the firm, provisional and planning national goals frequently fall short of the minimum forces required by the NATO military authorities;

5. Takes note that some countries have indicated an intent to reexamine their force plans for 1960 with a view to possible improvement, and that each member country has committed itself to refrain from measures of any kind which might either reduce the size or modify the quality of the contribution which it has firmly undertaken to make to the Alliance during 1960, except by agreement with the appropriate Allied authorities;

6. Agrees that the overall evaluation of the results of the military studies which are being carried out in support of the resolution on defense C–M(58)170⁴ should be completed and forwarded to the Council for consideration not later than 1 May 1960 and to this end invites member countries to complete their discussions of the studies with the major commanders as early as possible;

7. Invites the Permanent Council to examine the various proposals put forward by Ministers during the course of the present meeting with a view to increasing the effectiveness of NATO defence;

8. Resolves that the results of this examination shall be submitted to the Ministers of Defence who might meet for this purpose during March 1960. End Text.

0. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 396.1–PA/12–1859. Secret; Priority. Repeated to London and Bonn and pouched to the other NATO capitals.
1. See Document 242.
2. See footnote 7, Document 239. MC–39/11 has not been found.
3. The 1959 Annual Review Questionnaire and summary force tables have not been found.
4. See Document 180.