Editorial Note
Regional command problems within NATO and the creation of a Middle East Command were discussed at length during the Eighth Session of the North Atlantic Council at Rome between November 24 and November 28. The Council took up these problems during its second, third, and fifth meetings on November 24, 26, and 28, respectively, and the NATO Defense Ministers discussed them at a meeting on November 26. In addition the delegations from the United States, United Kingdom, and France met informally at the Foro Italica on the morning of November 27 to discuss the relation of the proposed Middle East Command to NATO. A draft resolution was agreed to which stipulated that the Council would have final authority to approve any future plans to coordinate a Middle East Command with contiguous NATO command areas. At its fifth meeting on November 28, the Council agreed to request the Standing Group to press for further progress on command arrangements for the Mediterranean and Middle East and directed it to make a definitive report on the subject through the Military Committee at the next Council Session, which was subsequently scheduled for Lisbon in February 1952. At this meeting, the Council also approved the following Reports prepared by the Military Committee: “Terms of Reference for the Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic;” “Proposals for NATO Command in the Channel and Southern North Sea Area;” and “Division [Page 608] of Responsibilities in Wartime between National Territorial Commanders and Supreme Commanders and Subordinate Allied Commands.” Finally, Secretary Acheson on November 29 held separate conversations with Ambassador Huseyn Baydur, the Turkish observer at the Eighth Session, and Evanghelos Averoff, the Greek observer, concerning various matters dealing with the impending Greek and Turkish admission to NATO. For documentation on the Eighth Session of the North Atlantic Council see pages 693 ff.