Decisions Of Atlantic Pact Countries Given In Communique

Wanganui Chronicle, 21 December 1950, Page 5

Decisions Of Atlantic Pact Countries Given In Communique

Brussels, Dec. 19.—A communique issued by the Ministers in Brussels said General Eisenhower would assume command of the Atlantic defence forces and establish his headquarters in Europe early in the New Year. . • - • , Other important decisions included in the announcement were: A defence production board with wide powers would be established and a supreme leader on the production side —comparable to General Eisenhower’s military command—would be appointed. The appointment of General Eisenhower followed quickly the North Atlantic Council’s decision yesterday to establish integrated armed forces for the protection of Western Europe and to ask President Truman to appoint an American commander-in-chief. The decision to seek an American commander for the North Atlantic Pact army was taken originally by the Atlantic Pact Defence Ministers at their meeting yesterday afternoon. This recommendation was forwarded to the Foreign Ministers of the North |f Atlantic Pact countries who met separately. and after approving the recommendation called a joint meeting of the North Atlantic Pact Council (the Defence Ministers and Foreign Ministers of the 12 countries). This joint meeting then decided to ask President Truman to appoint an