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The North Atlantic Treaty, pledging twelve nations of the North Atlantic area. Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States to the principles of collective security and non-aggression, was signed on 4 April 1949 in cerormonies held at the Departmental Auditorium, Washington, D.C. Signing the historic document for their respective Government were the foreign ministers of the participating countries, and the ambassadors or ministers from those countries to the United States. Signing for the host country, the United States, was Dean Acheson, Secretary of State. In brief addresses proceding the signing, the foreign ministers stressed the defensive nature of the pact and empasized that it would strengthen the United Nations. Highlighting the ceremonies was an address by President Harry S Trueman of the United States, who hailed the pact as "a long step toward permanent peace in the world."..The photo shows Enest Devin. Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Great Britain, signing the Treaty for the United Kingdom. At the left is Sir Oliver Shewell Franks, British Ambassador to the United States, who also signed the pact for his Government. At the right is John W. Foley, Jr., of the Treaty Affairs Division, United States Department of State...4 April 1949 (KEYSTONE/UNITED ARCHIVES)