DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRTJfflUM
'JMMU MA"JESTY'
MAIESTY'S (MvilR]
GOVERNMENT
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The
circulation
of t h i s
paper
I t is i s s u e d for t h e p e r s o n a l
has
use
been
strictlx
of.,
b p SECRET
c.?.(48)
limited.
Copy No..
83
14TH MARCH. 19.48
CABINET
FIVE-POWER TREATY
Note by the S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e
Foreign Affairs
for
I c i r c u l a t e herewith f o r the approval of
my c o l l e a g u e s t h e d r a f t F i v e - P o w e r T r e a t y a s
p r o v i s i o n a l l y a g r e e d o n 12th March b y t h e d i p l o m a t i c
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of the f i v e Governments i n B r u s s e l s .
EoBo
Foreign Office,
S.W.I.,
1 4 t h Mar obi, 1 9 4 8 .
v
139
Draft Five-power Treaty ss provisionally agreed
on t h e m o r n i n g o f 1 2 t h M a r c h by t h e P i p l o m a t i c
R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of t h e f i v e Governments i n B r u s s e l s
H i s R o y a l H i g h n e s s t h e p r i n c e R e g e n t of B e l g i u m , t h e
P r e s i d e n t of t h e F r e n c h R e p u b l i c , Her R o y a l H i g h n e s s t h e Grand
D u c h e s s of L u x e m b u r g , Her M a j e s t y t h e Queen o f t h e N e t h e r l a n d s ,
a n d H i s M a j e s t y t h e K i n g of G r e a t B r i t a i n and N o r t h e r n
Ireland
and t h e B r i t i s h D o m i n i o n s beyond, t h e S e a s
Resolved
in t h e
ideals
To r e a f f i r m t h e i r f a i t h i n f u n d a m e n t a l h u m a n r i g h t s ,
d i g n i t y a n d w o r t h o f t h e human p e r s o n a n d i n t h e o t h e r
p r o c l a i m e d in t h e C h a r t e r of t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s ;
To f o r t i f y a n d p r e s e r v e t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f d e m o c r a c y ,
p e r s o n a l f r e e d o m a n d p o l i t i c a l l i b e r t y , t h e r u l e of lav/ a n d
c o n s t i t u t i o n a l t r a d i t i o n s , a l l o f w h i c h a r e t h e i r common
heritage;
social
To s t r e n g t h e n ,
and c u l t u r a l t i e s
to create
recovery;
To c o - o p e r a t e l o y a l l y a n d t o c o - u r d i n a t c t h e i r
efforts
in Western Europe a firm b a s i s for European economic
To a f f o r d
w i t h t h e C h a r t e r of
i n t e r n a t i o n a l peace
aggression;
the
event
with t h e s e aims in view, the economic,
by which they are a l r e a d y united;
a s s i s t a n c e to each other, in accordance
the United N a t i o n s , in m a i n t a i n i n g
and s e c u r i t y and in r e s i s t i n g a policy of
To t a k e s u c h s t e p s a s m a y b e h e l d t o b e n e c e s s a r y
of a r e n e w a l b y Germany o f a p o l i c y of a g g r e s s i o n ;
in
To a s s o c i a t e p r o g r e s s i v e l y i n t h e p u r s u a n c e of t h e s e
aims o t h e r S t a t e s i n s p i r e d by t h e same i d e a l s and a n i m a t e d by
the like determination;
Desiring for these purposes to conclude a treaty
c o l l a b o r a t i o n i n economic, s o c i a l and c u l t u r a l m a t t e r s and
collective
self-defence.
Hove a p p o i n t e d
His Royal
Highness
The P r e s i d e n t
Her Royal
of
the
the
Queen
their
Prince
the French
Highness
Her Majesty
the
as
plenipotentiaries:
Regent
the
of
Belgium
of
Luxemburg
Republic
Grand Duchess
of
for
for
Netherlands
H i s M a j e s t y t h e K i n g of G r e a t B r i t a i n and N o r t h e r n
Ireland
and the B r i t i s h Dominions beyond the Seas for t h e U n i t e d
Kingdom o f . G r e a t B r i t a i n a n d N o r t h e r n
I r e l a n d
who,
form
having
exhibited
Have
agreed
their
as
full
follows:
powers
found
in
good
and
due
MI
-Article
I
;fe p r o p o s e
j substitute
£is b y
^
J
I.
C o n v i n c e d of t h e c l o s e c o m m u n i t y of
their
i n t e r e s t s a n d of t h e n e c e s o i t y of u n i t i n g i n o r d e r to...
p r o m o t e t h e economic r e c o v e r y of E u r o p e , t h e High
C o n t r a c t i n g P a r t i e s w i l l so o r g a n i s e a n d c o - o r d i n a t e
t h e i r economic a c t i v i t i e s as t o produce t h e g r e a t e s t
b y t h e e l i m i n a t i o n of c o n f l i c t
in
possible returns,
t h e i r economic p o l i c i e s , t h e c o - o r d i n a t i o n of
production
- a n d t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of
commercial exchanges.
5 5
SttAuMte
The c o - o p e r a t i o n p r o v i d e d f o r i n . t h e p r e c e d i n g
. p a r a g r a p h which w i l l be e f f e c t e d through t h e
C o n s u l t a t i v e Council r e f e r r e d to in A r t i c l e VII as
w e l l as t h r o u g h o t h e r b o d i e s , s h a l l n o t i n v o l v e any
d u p l i c a t i o n o f , o r p r e j u d i c e t o , t h e work: o f o t h e r
economic o r g a n i s a t i o n s in which t h e High C o n t r a c t i n g
P a r t i e s a r e o r may b e r e p r e s e n t e d b u t s h a l l on t h e
c o n t r a r y a s s i s t t h e work of t h o s e
organisations.
Article
II.
. The H i g h C o n t r a c t i n g P a r t i e s w i l l m a k e e v e r y
e f f o r t i n common, b o t h b y d i r e c t c o n s u l t a t i o n a n d i n
s p e c i a l i s e d a g e n c i e s , t o promote t h e a t t a i n m e n t of a
h i g h e r s t a n d a r d of l i v i n g by t h e i r p e o p l e a n d t o d e v e l o p
on c o r r e s p o n d i n g l i n e s t h e s o c i a l a n d o t h e r
related
s e r v i c e s of t h e i r c o u n t r i e s .
The H i g h C o n t r a c t i n g P a r t i e s w i l l c o n s u l t w i t h
t h e o b j e c t of a c h i e v i n g t h e e a r l i e s t p o s s i b l e a p p l i c a t i o n
of r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s r e l a t i n g to s o c i a l m a t t e r s and of
immediate p r a c t i c a l i n t e r e s t , adopted with t h e i r
approval
in the specialised agencies.
They w i l l endeavour t o c o n c l u d e as soon a s
p o s s i b l e c o n v e n t i o n s w i t h each o t h e r i n t h e s p h e r e of
social
security.
Article
III.
The H i g h C o n t r a c t i n g P a r t i e s w i l l make e v e r y
e f f o r t i n common t o l e a d t h e i r p e o p l e t o w a r d s a b e t t e r
u n d e r s t a n d i n g of t h e p r i n c i p l e s w h i c h f o r m t h e b a s i s
o f t h e i r common c i v i l i s a t i o n a n d t o p r o m o t e c u l t u r a l
exchanges by c o n v e n t i o n s between t h e m s e l v e s or
otherwise.
Article
IV
I f any High C o n t r a c t i n g P a r t y s h o u l d be the o b j e c t
of an armed a t t a c k i n E u r o p e , t h e o t h e r High C o n t r a c t i n g
P a r t i e s w i l l , i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f A r t i c l e 51
of t h e C h a r t e r , a f f o r d t h e P a r t y so a t t a c k e d a l l t h e m i l i t a r y
and o t h e r a i d a n d / a s s i s t a n c e in t h e i r power.
Article
V.
A l l measures t a k e n as a r e s u l t ^f t h e p r e c e d i n g
a r t i c l e s h a l l be immediately reported to the Security
Council.
They s h a l l be t e r m i n a t e d as soon as t h e S e c u r i t y "
Council has taken the measures necessary to maintain or
r e s t o r e i n t e r n a t i o n a l peace end s e c u r i t y .
The p r e s e n t t r e a t y d o e s n o t p r e j u d i c e i n any way
t h e o b l i g a t i o n s of t h e H i g h C o n t r a c t i n g p a r t i e s u n d e r t h e
p r o v i s i o n s of the' C h a r t e r of t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s .
It
shall
n o t b e i n t e r p r e t e d as a f f e c t i n g i n a n y way t h e a u t h o r i t y a n d
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l u n d e r t h e C h a r t e r t o
t a k e a t a n y t i m e s u c h a c t i o n a s i t d.eerns n e c e s s a r y i n o r d e r
to m a i n t a i n or r e s t o r e i n t e r n a t i o n a l peace and s e c u r i t y .
Article
VI.
The High C o n t r a c t i n g F o r t i e s d e c l a r e , each so f o r
a s he i s c o n c e r n e d , t h a t n o n e of t h e
international
e n g a g e m e n t s n o w i n f o r c e b e t w e e n h i m and. a n y o t h e r H i g h
C o n t r a c t i n g P a r t y or any t h i r d s t a t e i s in c o n f l i c t w i t h
t h e p r o v i s i o n s of t h e p r e s e n t T r e a t y .
any
any
N o n e of t h e H i g h C o n t r a c t i n g P a r t i e s w i l l c o n c l u d e
a l l i a n c e or p a r t i c i p a t e in any c o a l i t i o n d i r e c t e d a g a i n s t
o t h e r High" C o n t r a c t i n g P a r t y .
Article
VII.
F o r t h e p u r p o s e o f c o n s u l t i n g t o g e t h e r on a l l
the q u e s t i o n s d e a l t with in the present Treaty, t h e High
Contracting Parties will create a Consultative'Council,
which
s h a l l be so o r g a n i s e d as to be a b l e t o e x e r c i s e i t s
functions
continuously.
The C o u n c i l s h a l l meet a t such t i m e s as i t
s h a l l deem f i t .
At
the
request
of
any High C o n t r a c t i n g
Party,
the
C o u n c i l s h a l l ho i m m e d i a t e l y convened in o r d e r t o permit t h e High C o n t r a c t i n g P a r t i e s to c o n s u l t w i t h r e g a r d t o t h e a t t i t u d e t o Too a d o p t c i a n d t h e s t e p s t o h e t a k e n i n c o s e of t h e r e n e w a l by Germany of an a g g r e s s i v e
policy; w i t h r e g a r d t o a n y s i t u a t i o n w h i c h may c o n s t i t u t e a t h r o a t to peace in whatever ores t h i s t h r e a t should a r i s e ;
or w i t h r e g a r d to any s i t u a t i o n c o n s t i t u t i n g a d a n g e r t o economic s t a b i l i t y .
Article
VIII.
In pursuance of t h e i r d e t e r m i n a t i o n t o s e t t l e
d i s p u t e s only by p e a c e f u l moons, tho High C o n t r a c t i n g P a r t i e s
will apply to disputes between themselves the following
provisions;
The High C o n t r a c t i n g P a r t i e s w i l l , w h i l e t h e p r e s e n t
t r e a t y remains in force, s e t t l e a l l disputes f a l l i n g within
t h e s c o p e o f A r t i c l e 36 (2) o f t h e S t a t u t e o f t h e
I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o u r t of J u s t i c e b y r e f e r r i n g t h e m t o t h e
C o u r t s u b j e c t o n l y , in t h e c a s e of each of them t o any
r e s e r v a t i o n a l r e a d y mode b y t h a t P a r t y when a c c e p t i n g t h i s
clause for compulsory j u r i s d i c t i o n to tho extent t h a t
that
P a r t y may m a i n t a i n t h e r e s e r v a t i o n .
In a d d i t i o n , t h e High C o n t r a c t i n g P a r t i e s w i l l
s u b m i t t o c o n c i l i a t i o n a l l d i s p u t e s o u t s i d e t h o s c o p e of
A r t i c l e 36, p a r a g r a p h 2, o f t h o S t a t u t e o f t h e
International
C o u r t of J u s t i c e .
In t h e cose of a mixed d i s p u t e i n v o l v i n g b o t h
q u e s t i o n s f o r which c o n c i l i a t i o n i s a p p r o p r i a t e and o t h e r
q u e s t i o n s for which j u d i c i a l s e t t l e m e n t i s a p p r o p r i a t e , any
P a r t y t o t h e d i s p u t e s h a l l have t h o r i g h t t o i n s i s t t h a t
the
j u d i c i a l s e t t l e m e n t of t h e l e g a l q u e s t i o n s s h a l l p r e c e d e '
conciliation.
T h e p r e c e d i n g p r o v i s i o n s of t h i s A r t i c l e i n n o w a y
a f f e c t t h e a p p l i c a t i o n of r e l e v a n t p r o v i s i o n s or a g r e e m e n t s
p r e s c r i b i n g some o t h e r m e t h o d of p a c i f i c
settlement.
Article
i n v i t e any
conditions
IX.
The H i g h C o n t r a c t i n g P a r t i e s may b y a g r e e m e n t
o t h e r S t a t e t o a c c e d e t o t h o p r e s e n t T r e a t y on
t o b o a g r e e d b e t w e e n them a n d t h e S t a t e s o i n v i t e d .
Any S t a t e s o i n v i t e d may b e c o m e 0 P a r t y t o
T r e o t y b y d e p o s i t i n g an i n s t r u m e n t of a c c e s s i o n w i t h
G o v e r n m e n t of B e l g i u m .
the
the
T h e G o v e r n m e n t of B e l g i u m w i l l i n f o r m e a c h
t h e High C o n t r a c t i n g P a r t i e s of t h e d e p o s i t of each
i n s t r u m e n t of a c c e s s i o n .
of
-a,­
Article
X.
1.
The p r e s e n t T r e a t y s h a l l he r a t i f i e d
i n s t r u m e n t s o f r a t i f i c a t i o n s h a l l "be d e p o s i t e d
p o s s i b l e w i t h t h e G o v e r n m e n t of B e l g i u m .
and the
as soon
2.
I t s h a l l e n t e r i n t o f o r c e on t h e d o t e o f
d e p o s i t of t h e l a s t i n s t r u m e n t of r a t i f i c a t i o n and
t h e r e a f t e r remain in f o r c e f o r f i f t y y e a r s .
as
the
shall
3.
A f t e r t h e e x p i r y o f t h e p e r i o d of f i f t y
years,
each of t h e High C o n t r a c t i n g P a r t i e s s h a l l have t h e r i g h t t o
c e a s e t o "be a p a r t y t h e r e t o p r o v i d e d t h a t h o s h a l l h a v e
p r e v i o u s l y g i v e n one y e a r * s n o t i c e of d e n u n c i a t i o n t o t h e
Government of Belgium.
h.
T h e G o v e r n m e n t of
H i g h C o n t r a c t i n g P a r t i e s of
of r a t i f i c a t i o n and of each
Belgium s h a l l inform the o t h e r
t h e d e p o s i t of e a c h i n s t r u m e n t
n o t i c e of d e n u n c i a t i o n .
In w i t n e s s whereof, the
P l e n i p o t e n t i a r i e s have signed the
affixed thereto their
seals.
above mentioned
p r e s e n t Treaty and
have
Done a t B r u s s e l s , t h i s
d a y of 19h8,
in
E n g l i s h and F r e n c h , each t e x t b e i n g e q u a l l y a u t h e n t i c ,
in
a s i n g l e copy w h i c h s h a l l remain d e p o s i t e d in t h e a r c h i v e s
o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t o f B e l g i u m a n d of w h i c h c e r t i f i e d c o p i e s
b e t r a n s m i t t e d b y t h a t G o v e r n m e n t t o e a c h of t h e o t h e r
sign atari es.
shall