Conference files, lot 60 D 627, CF 432
United States Minutes of Meeting of the Manila Pact Working Group1
Participants
- US
- C—Mr. MacArthur
- FE—Mr. Sebald
- Defense—Mr. Sullivan
- BNA—Mr. Horsey
- SOA—Mr. Thacher
- C—Mr. Galloway
- PSA—Mr. Bell
- Australia—Mr. F. J. Blakeney
- France—M. Pierre Millet
- New Zealand—Mr. G.R. Laking
- Pakistan—Amb. Syed Amjad Ali
- Philippines—Minister S. P. Lopez
- Thailand—Minister Devakul
- United Kingdom—Sir Robert Scott
[Here follows discussion of procedural matters, during which February 23, 1955 emerged as the tentative date of the proposed meeting of Foreign Ministers.]
Continued Discussion of Council Procedures and Organization
The meeting turned to discussion of the revised paper on Council procedures and organization, MP(IWG)D–Ia,2 together with an additional U.S. paragraph2 providing for a small contributed secretariat.
Secretariat—All representatives appeared to approve the concept of a small contributed secretariat (noninternational budget, noninternational personnel, etc.), which would assist the liaison representatives in their functions. Mr. MacArthur explained the U.S. view that the secretariat would be a service organization for the liaison representatives and its actual activities would depend on the needs of the liaison representatives.
Decisions by Council—It was pointed out that it had been made clear at Manila that the treaty would not be a supernational organization and that no power could be bound by any decision it opposed. All decisions reached under the Manila Treaty would only be Treaty decisions in case of a unanimous vote of all the members.
Location of Council Meetings—Mr. Blakeney said Australia did not wish to have any permanent location for Council meetings in spite of a possible permanent headquarters for the Council. This Australian view conflicted with that of the U.K., which did not want to exclude the possibility of a permanent location for Council meetings.
Role of Liaison Representatives—The Philippine representative suggested amending the paper so that the liaison representatives would not be restricted to “exchanging information”. The U.S. pointed out that this wording had not been intended to restrict the liaison activities of the representatives and following a considerable discussion the U.S. promised to produce further rewording on the point.
Date of Next Working Group Meeting—The meeting was adjourned without discussion of the Military Advisor’s paper until Friday, December 17, at 2:30 P.M., Room 5106 New State.