Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-03-12
|50-Year Treaty.
West Europe.
Five Fot ign Ministers
Will Syn Pact in
BrueseIs Wednesday
BY the Associated Press

i oPooDGLO, MAI. lZ.-Brltdln
France and the Benelux nations
today adopted a 5O-year treaty
for political, economic and mil
itary union of Western Europe
intended to check the march of
communism.
Conference officials said the &C
cord and allied documents will be
signed here next Wednesday by the
Foreign Ministers of Belgium, Brit
ain, France, Luxembourg and the
Netherlands.
The text Of the agreement will
not be released until the signature
ceremony, to give the five govern
ments of the negotiators opportun-
lty to examine it closely, the officials
said.
Terms to be Revealed Later.
Delegates from the five countries,
including four of the worlds great
est colonial powers, completed their
efforts-on the Western European
Union suggested in January by
British Foreign Secretary Bevin-
at 11:30 am. $3.50 am. EST, after
more than a week around the con-
ference table.
Sir George Rendel, chief of the
British delegation and Britain's
Ambassador here, said on emerging
from the conference room that the
delegates had agreed among them
selves not to communicate any of
the substance of the treaty before
their governments approve it.
Questioned as to whether the
treaty provided for a permanent
ive-power commission to carry out
its provisions, Sir George shook his
head.
That" he said, lis one of the
things I just cannot talk about"
10 Clauses Reported.
The treaty, repeatedly containing
a preamble and 10 clauses, was be-
lieved to bind the five countries to
mutual assistance in the face of ag-
erosion, mutual aid in the economic
field, cooperation in improving
their living standards and a meas
ure of coordination of colonial re-
sources.
One of the final points before the
conferes, it was learned, was wheth-
er the treaty should name Germany
as possible aggressor. There was
no definite indication as to the de-
cision reached.
A short eommunique issued after
the final session said the delegates,
meeting here since March 4, have
drawn up a draft treaty which
they will be recommending to their
respective governments and which
will include clauses dealing with
economic, social, cultural and de-
tense matters within the scope Of
the Charter of the United Nations"
Satisfactory" Meeting.
1T is hoped the treaty will be
signed in Brussels next week by the
foreign ministers of each country.
1t will be for the governments con-
cerned. after finally approving the
text, to publish it's substance in such
a manner as they decide in COM
mon"
Conference officials said the text
would be released simultaneously in
the capitals of all five countries on
the day Of signature.
British Delegate Gladwyn Jebb
left Immediately for London. taking
a copy of the completed text with
him.
Sir George said the conference was
a very satisfactory meeting. It
shows the possibility Of working to-
gether in way which is good
augury for the future"
Diplomatic officials earlier had
expressed hope that the pact could
be completed and signed before
Monday, when the 16 Marshal Plan
nations meet in Paris for their Sec
(see BRUSSELS, Page A-5D