Earlier secret talks had been held at the Pentagon between 22 March and 1 April 1948 , of which Achilles said : According to Achilles , another important author of the treaty was John D. Hickerson : The treaty was created with an armed attack by the Soviet Union against Western Europe in mind , but the mutual self-defense clause was never invoked during the Cold War .
The treaty was created with an armed attack by the Soviet Union against Western Europe in mind , but the mutual self-defense clause was never used during the Cold War .