DECLARATION’S TEXT

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26576, 12 November 1951, Page 7

DECLARATION’S TEXT

Principles Guiding Four Powers (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, November 11. The declaration of the United States, Britain, France, and Turkey on the basic principles of the Middle East Command was released in Wellington to-day. It states that in proceeding with their announced intention to establish the Middle East Command the four Governments say that they are guided by the following principles:— (1) The United Nations is a world response to the principle that peace is indivisible and that the security of all States is jeopardised by breaches of the peace anywhere. At the same time it is incumbent upon the States of any area to be willing and able to undertake the initial defence of their area. (2) The defence of the Middle East is vital to the free world and its defence against outside aggression can be secured only by the cooperation of all interested States. (3) The Middle East Command is intended to be the centre of cooperative efforts for the defence of the area as a whole. The achievement of peace and security in the area through the Middle East Command will bring with it social and economic advancement. (4) A function of the Middle East Command will be to assist and support the States willing to join in the defence of the Middle East, in developing the capacity of each to play its proper role in the defence of the area as a whole against outside aggression. It will not interfere in problems and disputes arising within the area. Advice and Training (5) The task of the command at the outset will be primarily one of planning and providing the Middle East States on their request with assistance in the form of advice and training. Requests for arms and equipment made by States in the area willing to join in its defence, to sponsoring States in a position to assist in tnis connexion

will be filled by them to the extent possible following the coordination of such requests through the command. (6) The Supreme Allied Commander, Middle East, will command the forces placed at his disposal and will develop plans for the operations of all forces within the area (or to be introduced into the area) in time of war or international emergency. However, the placing of forces under command of the Supreme Allied Commander, Middle East, in peace time is not a prerequisite for joining in the common effort for the defence of the Middle East. Movement of those troops placed under command to. or within, the territories of States joining in the defence of the Middle East will be made only with the agreement of the State or States concerned and in

full accord with their national independence and sovereignty. (7) While details have yet to be formulated the sponsoring States intend that the Middle East Command should be an integrated Allied command and not a national command. The responsibility of the Supreme Allied Commander will be to ensure the effectiveness of the corporate defence enterprise represented by the command. All States joining in this enterprise will be individually associated with the command on the basis of equality through a Middle East defence liaison organisation which will be located at command headquarters, and will be the link between the command and the countries ready to join in the defence of this area. (8) Any facilities granted the command in peace time by States joining in the defence of the Middle East will be the subject of specific agreements. (9) The broad mission of the Middle East Command and its co-operative character make it necessary that all States, whether territorially or not part of the anea, act in the best interests of me co-operative defence of the area. The Middle East Command will naturally not further the national interest of any particular State. (10) A continuing objective of the Middle East Command is to reduce such deficiencies existing at present in organisation and capacity for defence in a vitally important area so that the peace-time role of the Statea of the area in Middle East defence will progressively increase, thus permitting the role of States not territorially part of the Middle East to be reduced proportionately. (11) The supporting States of the Middle East Command do not regard the initial form in which the Middle East Command will be organised as unchangeable. They believe the Middle East Command should, through mutual understanding, evolve in the manner which will enable it most effectively to provide for the defence of the Middle East area as a whole.