Page 662
HIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT)
SECRET
med gang man shog ches tong
C. P. (49) 236
16TH NOVEMBER, 1949
BRUSSELS TREATY
CABINET
COPY NO.
MEET ING OF CONSULTATIVE
31.
COUNCIL, 7TH NOVEMBER, 1949
Memorandum by the Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs
The Consultative Council of the Brussels Treaty Powers met on 7th November at the Quai d'Orsay under the chairmanship of M. Schuman. The text of the communiqué issued at the conclusion of the meeting is attached.
2.
The proceedings opened with the signature of the Social Security Convention and the Medical Assistance Conven- tion, both of which had been drawn up and agreed through the Brussels Treaty machinery. The ceremony was photographed by camera and newsreel and, at my suggestion, a recorded broad- cast by the five Foreign Ministers was also arranged.
3.
The Council approved the Secretary-General's reports' on the work of the Social and Cultural Committees during the previous three months, after I had drawn special attention to the excellent work which the Health Committee is doing in regard to health control for sea and air transport. There was some debate on this item arising from the fact that the War Pensions Committee have now reached a stage where not much further progress can be made in harmonising the war pensions systems of the five countries unless there is a great deal more integration of their economies and social systems. The Council agreed that they could merely take note of this fact and did not feel that it should be regarded as one of the aims of the Brussels Treaty to effect a complete harmonising of the pension rights, etc. between the five countries.
4.
At
There was a discussion about publicity for the Brussels Treaty work in cultural and social co-operation. the previous moeting of the Consultative Council in Luxembourg I had stressed the importance of such publicity and I was able on this account to record satisfaction at the progress which had been made since then. I suggested, however, that further efforts were required to publicise the non-military activities of the Brussels Treaty in the North American continent and the Council agreed that the Secretary-General should go thoroughly into the matter and see whether he could enlist the services of leading United States radio commentators. It was agreed also that the diplomatic missions and information services of the five powers in the United States should be invited to assist.
5.
The Belgian Representative instigated a debate on the implications of Article 1 of the Brussels Treaty, which states that "the High Contracting Parties will so organise and co- ordinate their economic activities as to produce the best possible results, by the elimination of conflict in their econoPage 662 of4097the co-ordination of prPage 66o1097he development of commercial exchanges..... with the understanding that this co-operation "shall not involve any duplication of, or
-1-
9
T