RESOLUTION 331
on the progress achieved in the sphere of European defence
The Assembly,
Having taken note of the communiqués issued at the close of the
meetings of the Council of N. A. T. O. held in December, 1952
and in April, 1953, and of the Second Annual Report of the
Supreme Allied Commander Europe of June, 1953 ;
Recalling the terms of its Resolution 21 adopted during the
second part of the Fourth Ordinary Session ;
SECTION A
Noting with satisfaction that the general progress in the
construction of the European defence system has been
maintained and, moreover, that Greece, Turkey and Yugoslavia
are actively pursuing the co-ordination of their military
defence effort,
1. Emphasises, however, the urgent need to pursue the defence
effort without relaxation, there being no evidence that the
military threat to Europe has in any way diminished ;
2. Welcomes the assurances that have been given that the
military mission of N. A. T. O. in the event of war is to
defend all the territories of its Member countries, at any
time, and that the strategic directives for effective
fulfilment of this mission have been agreed and are already in
force ;
3. Draws attention to the danger to the European defence
effort which would result from a decrease in U. S. Foreign Aid
unless offset by an increase in the volume of U. S. private
investment abroad and by a liberalisation of the tariff policy
of the U. S. A. ;
SECTION B
Having regard to the expressed opinion of the Supreme Allied
Commander Europe that German participation in the defence of
Europe is essential and that further delay in mobilising this
participation will prove a serious handicap to the European
defence effort ;
Recalling that the establishment of the E. D. C. represents at
the present time and in the foreseeable future the only
acceptable means of incorporating the German military
potential in the European defence system,
4. Urges the Parliaments of the six States which are
signatories to the Treaty establishing a European Defence
Community to proceed without delay to the ratification of the
Treaty ;
SECTION C
Reaffirming the importance, in the interests of European
economic and social stability, of a fair distribution of the
burden of rearmament among the countries and social classes
concerned,
5. Expresses the hope that every effort will be made to
develop further, on an equitable basis, among the European
Member countries of N. A. T. O., the joint long-term financial
and production programmes which have been successfully
inaugurated ;
SECTION D
Recalling that the responsibilities of N. A. T. O. apply
solely to the defence of the metropolitan North American and
European territories of its member countries ;
Recognising that European countries may experience difficulty
in meeting their obligations to N. A. T. O. and in carrying,
at the same time, the burden of their responsibilities
overseas,
6. Urges that every effort be made to extend the collaboration
among all the Members of N. A. T. O. in such a way as to
ensure that the European countries are in a position fully to
meet their overseas responsibilities.
[1]. This Resolution was adopted by the
Assembly at its nineteenth Sitting, on 22nd
September, 1953 (see Doc. 182, Report of the Committee on
General Affairs).
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