CAB129-53 — Page 98

Printed for the Cabinet. June 1952

CONFIDENTIAL

C. (52) 213

Nth June, 1952

CABINET

aujo cut 97

Page 98

Copy No.27

NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANISATION: STATUS OF

MILITARY HEADQUARTERS

MEMORANDUM BY THE SECRETARY CF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS

The North Atlantic Council has submitted to N.A.T.O. Governments for their pproval or comment by 2nd July a draft Protocol to govern the status of N.A.T.O. nternational military headquarters. This draft Protocol, in the preparation of which British officials have taken part, is the logical, extension of the Status of Forces Agreement for which enabling legislation has already been approved by ay colleagues. A summary of the draft Protocol and the text are attached as Annexes I and II.

2. I propose to instruct the United Kingdom Permanent Representative on the North Atlantic Council to accept the draft Protocol on behalf of Her Majesty's Government subject to any drafting or other minor amendments which may be found necessary.

Foreign Office, S.W.1,

24th June, 1952.

A. E.

ANNEX I

Nature of the Protocol ·

SUMMARY

The Protocol, a copy of which is attached as Annex II, extends to international military headquarters (such as S.H.A.P.E.) and their personnel the provisions of the Status of Forces Agreement signed by the North Atlantic Treaty Powers in London on 19th June, 1951, which regulates the status of national forces of one N.A.T.O. member in the territory of another member. It also contains in articles 8 to 13 certain additional provisions which have no parallel in the Status of Forces Agreement but which are considered desirable in regard to an international headquarters.

"

2. The Protocol will apply automatically to Supreme Headquarters, Europe and Atlantic, and to other international military headquarters immediately ubordinate to them. Provision is made in article 14 (1) for its extension, by decision of the North Atlantic Council, to other international military headquarters and international military organisations (such as the N.A.T.O. Defence College in Paris) set up under the North Atlantic Treaty.

Enabling Legislation

3. The Visiting Forces Bill (for which approval was given in H.A. (51)

4th misting int53, and L.C. (52) 9th meeting, minute 1) has alrede of 253

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