Ministerial
Communiqué
North
Atlantic
Council
Brussels
13th-14th
December
1967
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The Future
Tasks of the Alliance
Report of
the Council
A year ago, on the initiative of the Foreign Minister of Belgium,
the governments of the fifteen nations of the Alliance resolved
to "study the future tasks which face the Alliance, and its
procedures for fulfilling them in order to strengthen the
Alliance as a factor for durable peace". The present report sets
forth the general tenor and main principles emerging from this
examination of the future tasks of the Alliance.
- Studies were undertaken by Messrs. Schutz, Watson, Spaak,
Kohler and Patijn. The Council wishes to express its appreciation
and thanks to these eminent personalities for their efforts and
for the analyses they produced.
- The exercise has shown that the Alliance is a dynamic and
vigorous organization which is constantly adapting itself to
changing conditions. It also has shown that its future tasks can
be handled within the terms of the Treaty by building on the
methods and procedures which have proved their value over many
years.
- Since the North Atlantic Treaty was signed in 1949 the international situation has changed significantly and the political
tasks of the Alliance have assumed a new dimension. Amongst other
developments, the Alliance has played a major part in stopping
Communist expansion in Europe; the USSR has become one of the two
world super powers but the Communist world is no longer
monolithic; the Soviet doctrine of "peaceful co-existence" has
changed the nature of the confrontation with the West but not the
basic problems. Although the disparity between the power of the
United States and that of the European states remains, Europe has
recovered and is on its way towards unity. The process of
decolonisation has transformed European relations with the rest
of the world; at the same time, major problems have arisen in the
relations between developed and developing countries.
- The Atlantic Alliance has two main functions. Its first
function is to maintain adequate military strength and political
solidarity to deter aggression and other forms of pressure and to
defend the territory of member countries if aggression should
occur. Since its inception, the Alliance has successfully
fulfilled this task. But the possibility of a crisis cannot be
excluded as long as the central political issues in Europe, first
and foremost the German question, remain unsolved. Moreover, the
situation of instability and uncertainty still precludes a
balanced reduction of military forces. Under these conditions,
the Allies will maintain as necessary, a suitable military
capability to assure the balance of forces, thereby creating a
climate of stability, security and confidence.
In this climate the Alliance can carry out its second function,
to pursue the search for progress towards a more stable
relationship in which the underlying political issues can be
solved. Military security and a policy of détente are not
contradictory but complementary. Collective defence is a
stabilizing factor in world politics. It is the necessary
condition for effective policies directed towards a greater
relaxation of tensions. The way to peace and stability in Europe
rests in particular on the use of the Alliance constructively in
the interest of détente. The participation of the USSR and the
USA will be necessary to achieve a settlement of the political
problems in Europe.
- From the beginning the Atlantic Alliance has been a co-
operative grouping of states sharing the same ideals and with a
high degree of common interest. Their cohesion and solidarity
provide an element of stability within the Atlantic area.
- As sovereign states the Allies are not obliged to subordinate
their policies to collective decision. The Alliance affords an
effective forum and clearing house for the exchange of
information and views; thus, each of the Allies can decide its
policy in the light of close knowledge of the problems and
objectives of the others. To this end the practice of frank and
timely consultations needs to be deepened and improved. Each Ally
should play its full part in promoting an improvement in
relations with the Soviet Union and the countries of Eastern
Europe, bearing in mind that the pursuit of détente must not be
allowed to split the Alliance. The chances of success will
clearly be greatest if the Allies remain on parallel courses,
especially in matters of close concern to them all; their actions
will thus be all the more effective.
- No peaceful order in Europe is possible without a major effort
by all concerned. The evolution of Soviet and East European
policies gives ground for hope that those governments may event-
ually come to recognize the advantages to them of collaborating
in working towards a peaceful settlement. But no final and stable
settlement in Europe is possible without a solution of the German
question which lies at the heart of present tensions in Europe.
Any such settlement must end the unnatural barriers between
Eastern and Western Europe, which are most clearly and cruelly
manifested in the division of Germany.
- Accordingly the Allies are resolved to direct their energies
to this purpose by realistic measures designed to further a
détente in East-West relations. The relaxation of tensions is not
the final goal but is part of a long-term process to promote
better relations and to foster a European settlement. The
ultimate political purpose of the Alliance is to achieve a just
and lasting peaceful order in Europe accompanied by appropriate
security guarantees.
- Currently, the development of contacts between the countries
of Western and Eastern Europe is mainly on a bilateral basis.
Certain subjects, of course, require by their very nature a
multilateral solution.
- The problem of German reunification and its relationship to a
European settlement has normally been dealt with in exchanges
between the Soviet Union and the three Western powers having
special responsibilities in this field. In the preparation of
such exchanges the Federal Republic of Germany has regularly
joined the three Western powers in order to reach a common
position. The other Allies will continue to have their views
considered in timely discussions among the Allies about Western
policy on this subject, without in any way impairing the special
responsibilities in question.
- The Allies will examine and review suitable policies designed
to achieve a just and stable order in Europe, to overcome the
division of Germany and to foster European security. This will be
part of a process of active and constant preparation for the time
when fruitful discussions of these complex questions may be
possible bilaterally or multilaterally between Eastern and
Western nations.
- The Allies are studying disarmament and practical arm control
measures, including the possibility of balanced force reductions.
These studies will be intensified. Their active pursuit reflects
the will of the Allies to work for an effective détente with the
East.
- The Allies will examine with particular attention the defence
problems of the exposed areas e.g. the South-Eastern flank. In
this respect the present situation in the Mediterranean presents
special problems, bearing in mind that the current crisis in the
Middle East falls within the responsibilities of the United
Nations.
- The North Atlantic Treaty area cannot be treated in isolation
from the rest of the world. Crises and conflicts arising outside
the area may impair its security either directly or by affecting
the global balance. Allied countries contribute individually
within the United Nations and other international organizations
to the maintenance of international peace and security and to the
solution of important international problems. In accordance with
established usage the Allies or such of them as wish to do so
will also continue to consult on such problems without commitment
and as the case may demand.
- In the light of these findings, the Ministers directed the
Council in permanent session to carry out, in the years ahead,
the detailed follow-up resulting from this study. This will be
done either b intensifying work already in hand or by activating
highly specialized studies by more systematic use of experts and
officials sent from capitals.
- Ministers found that the study by the Special Group confirmed
the importance of the role which the Alliance is called upon to
play during the coming years in the promotion of détente and the
strengthening of peace. Since significant problems have not yet
bee] examined in all their aspects, and other problems of no less
significance which have arisen from the latest political and
strategic developments have still to be examined, the Ministers
have directed the Permanent Representatives to put in hand the
study of these problems without delay, following such procedures
as shall be deemed most appropriate by the Council in permanent
session, in order to enable further reports to be subsequently
submitted to the Council in Ministerial Session.
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