Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1949 - 1966 (Creation)
Level of description
Series
Extent and medium
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
The Standing Group (hereinafter referred to as the SG) consisted of the French, British and US representatives, who acted as Chairman on an annual rotating basis (until 1964) and then for 2 years + 1. The SG met regularly, once a week. The Chairman was assisted by a Director in the performance of his duties and the effective implementation of day-to-day work. The SG Director chaired the meetings of his team and some meetings of the SG Steering Committee. The SG Secretary sometimes served as Deputy Director, but one person could also fill both posts (see SGM-1702-53, page 6, SG organization).The SG Director supervised the following bodies, among others:-three International Working Teams (IWT) of the SG: France, the United Kingdom and the United States (see SGM-1702-53). The IWTs dealt with specific issues and reported to the SG Director via his secretariat (see below). The working groups carried out most of the SG's work; -a secretariat which managed the administrative work of the SG and the three working teams. It advised on security procedures in the SG structure, managed the budgets and liaised with other NATO bodies. The secretariat was based in Washington DC, as was the SG headquarters (see SG-228-Final); -three International Planning Teams (IPT);-the Military Committee (MC); -the Military Representatives Committee (MRC).The SG Director ensured that the following work was duly performed: -preparation of MC and SG meetings (arranging the room, agendas, proposed actions) -production of decision sheets (rough drafts and final versions) -organization of travel for any member of an SG body-establishment of a NATO security policy and taking account of inspection reports on this subject-creation of COSMIC registries and security posts -sharing of information between the SG, NATO commands and the WEU-drawing up terms of reference for each SG body-opening up the SG's subordinate groups (including the secretariat) to the other NATO member nations in the framework of the 1963 reform-occasional reorganizations of the SG structure Following the creation of the International Staff in 1952, the SG secretariat merged with the SG Director's office and the Secretary was given the title of Deputy Director (see DSGM-222-52). The SG Director was henceforth responsible for supervising and coordinating the work of the International Planning Staff under his management (see SSGM-124-64). The SG and all its subordinate groups (including the secretariat) were abolished in July 1966 after France decided to withdraw from the integrated military structure (see MCM-90-66(REV) and GF(66)D-27).
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The SG Director worked closely with the representative of the Liaison Office in London or Paris (especially during the annual review). They communicated via memoranda known as DSGM from Washington or LOM from London or Paris.
In the DSGMs, they discussed the issues being dealt with, or which could be dealt with, at Standing Group meetings.
The DSGMs also covered matters under the Director's responsibility, i.e. (for each SG body) premises, personnel, organizational charts, finance, diplomatic privileges, travel, medical care and postal services.
The first DSGMs were addressed to:
- Standing Group Steering Committee (SG/SC)
- London Branch, Standing Group Secretariat (LBSG)
- US State Department, Washington, providing support to the SG
Later DSGMs were addressed more specifically to: - Standing Group (SG)
- Standing Group Planning Teams
- Standing Group agencies
- SG/SC
- Standing Group Liaison Office (SGLO) Paris
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
DSGM documents are arranged in chronological order. Their reference is the acronym followed by a publication number and the year (e.g. DSGM-20-53).
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
NATO publicly disclosed information is available for research and education purposes. Any commercial use requires the written permission of NATO. Please credit the NATO Archives should any documents be used for publication. Guidelines for the proper citation of NATO publicly disclosed information can be found on the NATO Archives website (http://www.nato.int/archives).
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
The DSGMs were issued in English and, exceptionally, in French.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Generated finding aid
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
The SG Director produced 1650 DSGMs between December 1949 and June 1966. The number of DSGMs produced varied from year to year and depended on the number of missions assigned to the Director. A large number of them were destroyed.
The remaining documents have been digitized and a paper copy is available at the International Military Staff (IMS) Registry. In general, their annexes have been kept (often a LOM or SGLP memorandum or a message from the Liaison Office).