The second meeting of the North Atlantic Defence Committee was held in Paris on Thursday last, 1st December. During the two months since the Committee first met in Washington initial meetings were held in each of the five Regional Planning Groups, and the Standing Group, acting in concert with the accredited represen- tatives in Washington of the other States concerned, prepared a draft of the overall strategic concept for the integrated defence of the North Atlantic area. The primary purposes of the Paris meeting were, therefore, to conclude the essential task of organisation and formulation of agreed objectives necessary to carry out the defence provisions of the North Atlantic Treaty. These purposes were expeditiously and successfully achieved. No fresh obligations involving further expenditure were accepted by the United Kingdom as a result of the meeting.

Full details were given in a communiqué issued immediately after the meeting, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friends.