50-YEAR PACT SIGNED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22589, 18 March 1948, Page 5

50-YEAR PACT SIGNED

FIVE WEST EUROPEAN STATES ECONOMIC AND MILITARY AID RESISTANCE TO AGGRESSION IN EUROPE (N.Z.P. A.—Reuter— Copyright.) (10.30 a.m.) LONDON, March 17. Britain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxemburg have signed a 50-year treaty of economic co-operation and military aid.

Other States may accede to it on agreed conditions.

Mutual Military Aid

The treaty provides that if an armed attack in Europe should be made on any party to the treaty, the others will, in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, afford all military aid.

A permanent consultative council will be established to be called for immediate consultation at the request of any party to the treaty.

The preamble declared that the five nations are resolved to reaffirni their faith in fundamental human rights, to fortify and preserve the principles_ of democracy, personal freedom, political liberty, rule of law and constitutional ttciditions which are their common heritage, to strengthen their economic, cultural and social ties, to co-operate loyally and co-ordinate their efforts for the creation in Western Europe of a firm basis for European economic recovery, to take such steps as are necessary in the event of a renewal by Germany of a policy of aggression. Economic Co-ordination Article one says that the high contracting parties will organise and coordinate their economic activities and *ill aid the work of other economic organisations to which they belong. Article two calls for a common effort to a‘ min a higher standard of living and consultation on social matters. Article three calls for cultural exchanges between the parties. Articles four, five, six, seven and eight deal with collective self-defence wuhin the framework of the United Nations charter. Article four says: “If any party should be the object of an armed attack in Europe, the other parties will, in accordance with Article 51 of United Nations Charter, afford the party so attacked all military aid

within their power.” Article five says that all measures taken as a result of. Article four shall be immediately reported to the Security Council and shall be terminated as soon as the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to maintain or restore international peace and security. Consultative Council

Article six declares that none of the contracting parties will conclude an alliance or participate in any coalition directed against any signatories to the treaty. ’ Article seven provides for the creation of a consultative council or exercise continuous functions. The council could be convened at the request of any signatory nation in event of "Germany renewing an aggressive policy, in any situation constituting a threat to the peace, “in whatever area this threat should arise” or in any situation constituting a danger to economic stability. Article eight provides for the reference of disputes between the parties themselves to the International Court of Justice.

Article nine says that the high contracting parties may, by agreement, invite any other State to accede to the present treaty on agreed conditions. Other States may become parties by depositing an instrument of accession with the Belgian Government. Article ten says that the treaty shall enter into force on the date of the deposit of the last instrument of ratification with the Belgian Government.

After a period of 50 years, each of the parties shall have the right to cease to be a party by giving a year’s notice.