§ Mr. Garel-Jonesasked the Lord Privy Seal what progress has been made with regard to Spain's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
§ Mr. Humphrey AtkinsFollowing an indication by the Spanish Government of their wish to be invited to become a member of NATO, representatives of the Governments of the fifteen NATO member countries signed a protocol of accession to the North Atlantic treaty during the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Brussels on 10 December. The text of the protocol is as follows
The parties to the North Atlantic Treaty, signed at Washington on April 4 1949, being satisfied that the security of the North Atlantic area will be enhanced by the accesion of the Kingdom of Spain to that Treaty, agree as follows:Article I
Upon the entry into force of this Protocol, the Secretary 493W General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation shall, on behalf of all the parties, communicate to the Government of the Kingdom of Spain an invitation to accede to the North Atlantic Treaty. In accordance with article 10 of the Treaty, the Kingdom of Spain shall become a Party on the date when it deposits its instrument of accession with the Government of the United States of America.Article II
The present Protocol shall enter into force when each of the parties to the North Atlantic Treaty has notified the Government of the United States of America of its acceptance thereof. The Government of the United States of America shall inform all the parties to the North Atlantic Treaty of the date of the receipt of each such notification and of the date of the entry into force of the present Protocol.Her Majesty's Government warmly welcome the prospect of Spain's entry to NATO. It strengthens the alliance and represents another important step in Spain's assumption of her rightful place within the Western democratic community.