The Council established by Article 9 of the North Atlantic treaty held its first session in Washington on Sept. 17, 1949. Representatives of the parties to the treaty attending this first session were:

For Belgium — The Minister of Foreign Affairs, M. Paul Van Zeeland.

For Canada — The Secretary of State for External Affairs, Mr. Lester B. Pearson.

For Denmark — The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Gustav Rasmussen.

For France — The Minister of Foreign Affairs, M. Robert Schuman.

For Iceland — The Minister to the United States, Mr. Thor Thors.

For Italy — The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Count Sforza.

For Luxembourg — The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Josef Bech.

For the Netherlands — The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dirk U. Stikker.

For Norway — The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Halvard M. Lange.

For Portugal — The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Jose Caeiro da Matta.

For the United Kingdom — The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ernest Bevin.

For the United States — The Secretary of State, Mr. Dean Acheson.