EFFECTS OF TREATIES

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27489, 25 October 1954, Page 11

EFFECTS OF TREATIES

West Germany Joins N.A.T.O.

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9.10 p.m.) PARIS, October 23. Western statesmen filled the biggest I gap in European defence against com- ! munism when they signed the treaties Ito bring a rearmed sovereign West Germany into the Atlantic alliance. All but one—Portugal—of the 14 nations involved in the decision to admit the Federal Republic as a fully-fledged member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation were at war with Germany in May, 1945. The pacts were made less than eight weeks after France rejected the European Army Plan. They were signed after France and West Germany reached an eleventh-hour agreement in the Saar dispute. The treaties signed were: (1) The French and German Statute on the Saar, which provides for the “internationalisation” of the rich coal and steel zone, now tied to the economy of France, within the newly-created Western European Union. The union will appoint a governor from an impartial European State for the German-speaking territory. He will be responsible to the union for the foreign affairs, defence, constitutional rights, and political independence of the Saar. After ratification the Saar Government of Johannes Hoffman must give a licence to the three pro-German parties which up to now have been excluded from political life. Plebiscite Vote Three months after the ratification Saarlanders will vote in a plebiscite to decide whether they want the Statute or prefer to retain the Hoffman Government. If they vote for the Statute new elections will be held three months later. (2) A Protocol on the end of the Occupation regime in West Germany, signed by Britain, the United States, France, and West Germany. Under this the rights now held by the forces of the three Occupation Powers will be maintained pending the implementation of arrangements for Germany’s contribution of Western defence. The Bonn Conventions of May, 1952, ending the Allied occupation Statute, together with related conventions, come into force under the protocol. An accompanying convention on the presence of foreign troops in the Federal Republic rules that Allied forces may remain at the present strength and can be in.leased with the consent of the West German Government. Transit and training facilities are also granted these forces. The convention will expire on conclusion of a German peace treaty or if the signatory nations agree that the international situation justifies new arrangements.

(3) A declaration on Berlin bv Britain, the United States and France. The three Powers said that they were “determined to ensure the greatest possible degree of self-government in West Berlin compatible with Berlin’s special situation.” Talks will be held in West Berlin to apply this principle Western European Union

(4) A resolution by the Brussels Treaty Powers—Britain, France, Belgium, Holland, and Luxembourg—inviting Italy and West Germany to join the treaty. A Western European Union will be set up under this enlarged treaty. The arms production of the Continental member nations, including West Germany, will be controlled by inspectors of an agency set up by the treaty Powers.

(5) A resolution to strengthen the structure of N.A.T.O. implementing the final act of the Nine-Power London Conference on European Defence. Under this the North Atlantic Council recognises the need to strengthen European collective defence, and thus accepts the new Western European Union within the framework of N.A.T.O.

All forces of member nations in the area of the Allied Command in Europe will be placed under the Supreme Allied Commander, whose powers will be extended. The supreme commander will be responsible for welding the national forces into an effective and integrated force. Deployment will be in accordance with N.A.T.O. strategy. (6) A protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the accession of the Federal Republic of Germany. This is a formal invitation to West Germany to join the other 14 members of the North Atlantic Treaty. West Germany will automatically become a member on depositing the “Instrument of Accession” with the United States Government. Altogether the Western statesmen today signed 13 documents totalling 30,000 words. The ceremonies took two hours. Adenauer First to Sign Dr. Adenauer was first to sign the agreement allowing his country to put 500,000 men under arms within the Western European Union. Sir Anthony Eden was the last of the Brussels Treaty Ministers to sign. The seven Powers agreed to set up a working group in Paris on January 17, 1955, to study the production and standardisation of armaments. West Germany and Italy agreed to accept the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in any dispute. The climax of the ceremonies—approval of West Germany joining N.A.T.O.—took place at the organisation’s headquarters in the Palais de Chaillot overlooking the Seine. Dr. Adenauer was not present to witness the historic act making his country an all but equal partner in the Western community.