PART 4. CHRONOLOGY

26. CHRONOLOGY OF MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS RELATING TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY

1945

February 11. The Yalta Protocol and Agreement concluded. March 6. The American Republics approve the Act of Chapultepec and declare "that every attack of a state against the integrity or the inviolability of the territory, or against the sovereignty or political independence of an American state, shall

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considered as an act of aggression against the other states which sign this Act.

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April 25. Fifty nations meet for the United Nations Conference on International Organization at San Francisco, Calif.

June 26. The Charter of the United Nations is signed by 50 countries which participated in the San Francisco Conference.

July 28. By a vote of 89-2, the United States Senate consents to the ratification of the Charter of the United Nations and the Statute of the International Court of Justice.

August 1. The Potsdam Agreement concluded.

October 24. The Charter of the United Nations enters into effect. December 24. Secretary of State Byrnes proposes a four-power agreement among the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union for the purpose of keeping Germany disarmed.

1946

April 29. United States proposes draft of agreement for the disarmament and demilitarization of Germany.

May 17. United States proposes joint defense plans with Canada, particularly for the Arctic frontier.

1947

March 4. The Dunkirk Agreement signed between Great Britain and France.

March 12. "Truman Doctrine" asserted in President's message to Congress urging United States support to "free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation" and appropriation of $400,000,000 in direct aid to Greece and Turkey.

March 17. The Brussels Treaty signed.

May 22. The act to provide assistance to Greece and Turkey signed by the President.

June 5. United States Secretary of State Marshall makes a speech at Harvard advocating agreement on over-all needs as basis for United States economic aid to European nations.

June 17. Foreign Ministers Bevin of Great Britain and Bidault of France initiate conversations in Paris on Secretary Marshall's proposal.

September The Cominform is formed among the Communist leaders in Poland

September 2. The Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance, known as the Rio pact, is signed by the American Republics (19) represented at Rio Conference.

October 24. Benelux countries exchange ratifications on customs union agreement.

1948

January 22. Foreign Minister Bevin in an address to the House of Commons proposes unification of western Europe.

January 23. State Department welcomes the Bevin proposal and the European initiative in forming a western union.

February 20-25. The Communist Party in Czechoslovakia assumes control of the Government through a coup d'état.

February 21. Stalin asks Finnish Government for Finnish-U. S. S. R. defense agreement.

March 17. Conference of representatives of Great Britain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, on Western Union ends with signature of a 50-year treaty of collective military aid and economic and social cooperation.

In an address to Congress President Truman states: "I am sure that the determination of the free countries of Europe to protect themselves will be matched by an equal determination on our part to help them do so."

April 2. Congress passes the Foreign Assistance Act of 1948. April 18. The foreign ministers of the Five Powers announce plans for the implementation of the Brussels treaty.

May 19. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee unanimously reports Senate Resolution 239, which proposes "association of the United States, by constitutional process, with such regional and other collective arrangements as are based on continuous and effective self-help and mutual aid, and as affect its national security." The United States Senate by a vote of 64 to 4 passes Senate Resolution 239, the so-called Vandenberg resolution.

July 6. Ambassadors to the United States from Canada, Great Britain, France, and the Benelux countries meet with United States Under Secretary of State Lovett for an exchange of views on European defense requirements and on problems of common interest in relation to Senate Resolution 239.

July 20. In London, United States and Canadian military experts join as "nonmembers" in the consultations of the Permanent Military Committee of the Brussels powers.

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September 27. Foreign Secretary Bevin in a speech before the UN Security Council states: "If we cannot proceed on basis we must proceed on a regional basis September 27, 28. Defense Ministers of Western Union in conference at Paris announce agreement on common defense policy and formation of an organization to carry out that policy. October 13. Canadian Government states its willingness to participate in collective defense agreement for North Atlantic area. October 26. Consultative Council of the Western Union at its third meeting in Paris agrees to seek a North Atlantic security pact. November 19. Premier Salazar of Portugal in an interview declares: "The salvation of Portugal, western Europe, and the Occidental World lies in the formation of a true Atlantic bloc."

November 27. British Foreign Office announces completion of the draft of a North Atlantic Defense Pact by delegates of the five western powers. December 2. U. S. S. R. press warns Scandinavian countries against "plans for a Scandinavian military bloc."

December 10. Negotiations for the North Atlantic Pact open between United States Acting Secretary of State Lovett, the Minister of Luxembourg, and the Ambassadors of Canada, Great Britain, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

1949

January 20. In his inaugural address President Truman announces that the United States will associate itself by treaty in a "collective defense arrangement" with free European countries.

January 25. Formation of the Council for Economic Mutual Assistance among the U. S. S. R., Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Rumania, and Poland.

January 26. Poland and Rumania enter into alliance and make the most recent link in the Soviet alliance system.

January 29. The Soviet Union issues in Moscow a white paper, asserting that the North Atlantic Pact is intended to establish United States and British domination of the world by force.

January 29. The U. S. S. R. asks Norwegian Government to clarify its stand on Atlantic Pact.

February 1. In answer to the U. S. S. R.'s request of January 29, the Norwegian Government states that it will not enter into any agreement with other countries obligating Norway to grant bases on Norwegian territory unless Norway is attacked or threatened with attack. February 6. The Soviet Union offers Norway a nonaggression pact and warns tacitly against joining a North Atlantic defense pact. February 11. Secretary General of the United Nations Trygve Lie warns against regional pacts unless they recognize the supremacy of the United Nations.

February 17. The Turkish Foreign Minister proposes to the French Foreign Minister an extension of the North Atlantic Pact by a supplementary agreement for the defense of the Mediterranean area.. February 18. Secretary of State Acheson meets with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to discuss the North Atlantic Pact. February 21. Greek Foreign Minister Tsaldaris states that western European statesmen understand the desire of Greece and Turkey for a Mediterranean defense alliance to supplement the Atlantic Pact. February 23. Minister for External Affairs of Eire informs the Dail that he had explained to the United States Eire's agreement with the general aim of the North Atlantic Pact but that Eire could not undertake any military alliance with the state (Great Britain) responsible for partition.

March 3. Norway requests and receives an invitation to join conversations on the North Atlantic Security Pact.

March 3. Norway rejects the Soviet offer of a nonaggression pact. March 8. The Italian Cabinet backs Italy's participation in the North Atlantic Pact.

March 10. Danish Foreign Minister arrives in Washington to discuss North Atlantic Pact.

March 10. British Cabinet approves final draft of the Atlantic Pact. March 12. Danish Foreign Minister states he had "satisfactory" talks with United States Department of State officials regarding Greenland's role in the Atlantic Pact.

March 13. Iceland's Foreign Minister arrives in Washington for talks on Atlantic Pact, stating that Iceland would refuse to grant peacetime bases to any foreign power.

March 14. Australia's Defense Minister states that he hopes for a Pacific defense pact similar to the North Atlantic Treaty.

March 15. The Foreign Ministers of the five Brussels treaty powers approve terms of entry into North Atlantic Pact at a conference in London.

March 16. The French Cabinet approves the Atlantic Pact, at the same time expressing desire for further clarification of details of the armament program and military organization.

March 17. Invitation issued to Italy, Portugal, Denmark, and Iceland to join Atlantic Pact.

March 18. The text of the North Atlantic Treaty is made public with indications that it will be signed during the first week in April. March 18. Foreign Secretary Bevin champions Atlantic Pact before House of Commons and, later in broadcast, declares the treaty to be a strong defense against Communist encroachment and a great step toward world peace and security.

March 19. Italian Chamber of Deputies votes 342 to 170, in favor of Italy's adherence to the North Atlantic Pact.

March 19. White paper on The North Atlantic Pact is issued by the Department of State.

March 20. Moscow radio denounces North Atlantic Treaty and charges that a Pacific pact is being prepared as another link in the plan for "Anglo-American world domination."

March 21. Russian newspaper Pravda accuses Finland of violating its peace treaty with Soviet Union and warns against Finnish alinement with the Western powers.

March 31. U. S. S. R. delivers its official protest against the North Atlantic Treaty to the seven sponsoring countries.

April 2. The ministers of the signatory powers gathered in Washington to sign the North Atlantic Treaty issue a joint statement branding the Soviet note of March 31 as a "misinterpretation," and stating that the pact conforms both to the spirit and the letter of the UN Charter.

April 4. The North Atlantic Treaty is signed by representatives of Great Britain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Italy, Iceland, Canada, and the United States in Washington, D. C.