Parliament should not be nominated, nor would members of either of the Houses of Parliament of Northern Ireland be eligible. It was suggested that all the British representatives should be formally appointed by the Prime Minister, but that in practice he should not question the nominations made by the Opposition. The question whether Ministers should be included among the Government representatives should be left over until the Opposition list of nominations had been received. It should be publicly stated that the Government would not regard Parties which are anti-democratic or opposed to the objects of Western Union as eligible for inclusion in the British representation.
The Cabinet
(1) Approved the recommendations in C. P. (49) 98
regarding the basis of British representation in the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe; and took note that, in the general statement to be made in the House of Commons that day regarding the Statute of the Council of Europe, it would be made clear that the Opposition Parties would be repre- sented in the British Delegation to the Consultative Assembly.
THE FOREIGN SECRETARY handed round copies of the final text of the Statute of the Council of Europe. He explained that this met all the points in which the Cabinet had shown special interest. The Statute was to be signed at 3.0 p.m. that day.
The Cabinet
(2)
Took note with approval of the final text of
the Statute of the Council of Europe.
GERMANY
(Previous Reference: C. M. (49) 31st Conclusions, Minute 3)
6.
on
THE FOREIGN SECRETARY said that final agreement had now been reached, on behalf of the Governments of France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States, on the conditions which were to govern the raising of the blockade on Berlin. All the restrictions imposed by any of those Governments since 1st March, 1948, communications with Berlin and on communications between the Eastern and Western Zones of Germany would be removed on 12th May, 1949. On 23rd May a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers would be held in Paris to consider questions relating to Germany and problems arising out of the situation in Berlin, including the question of currency in Berlin.
(1)
(2)
The Cabinet
Agreed that the ending of the blockade on
Berlin should be formally announced to the House of Commons by the Foreign Secretary that afternoon.
Took note that the Foreign Secretary would arrange that at the appropriate moment a suitable message should be sent to all who had been responsible for the British part in the air-lift to Berlin expressing the Government's appreciation of the skill and efficiency with which their work had been carried out.
-5 5.