FIFTY-YEAR TREATY SIGNED

Chronicle (Levin), 18 March 1948, Page 5

FIFTY-YEAR TREATY SIGNED

(N.Z.P.A.-

& —Reuter

WESTERN POWERS PLEDGE AID IN EVENT 0F ARMED ATTACK

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Received Thursday, 10 a.m. • LONDON, Marcli 17.Britain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg' signed a 50-year treaty of ec'onomic co-operation and military- aid. Other states may accede to it on- agreed conditions. . v ' ; The treaty provides that if an armed attack in Europe should be made on any party to t.he treaty, the others will, in aceordance with article oi of the United Nations' Charter, "afford all military aid. ? : •

A permanent consultative coun- , cil will 'be ^stablished, to be called for immediate consultation at the j request of -any party to the treaty. . j The preamble declares that the I flve nations are resolved to reaffirm j their faith in fundamental human [rights, to fortify and preserve the principles of democracy, psrsonal ifreed-om, political liberty, rule of law and constitutional traditions, which are thsir common heritage, to strengthen' their economic, cultural an.d social ties, to co-operate loyally and eo-ordinate their effcrts fcr the creation in Western Eui ope of a firm basis for European ; economic recovery, to take such ! steps as are necessary in the event of a renewal by G-ermany . of a policy of aggression. Article one says that the high contracting parties will organise and co-ordinate theif -economic aetivities, and will aid the work of the other economic orgariisations to which they belong.