Secretary of State Dean Acheson and Senator Vandenberg Discuss the North Atlantic Treaty

The transcript discusses the conditions under which a treaty becomes active, emphasizing that no nation is targeted unless it acts as an aggressor. The treaty is only effective if the Security Council fails to maintain peace. It highlights the United Nations' obligations to prevent the treaty from becoming operative and clarifies that the treaty does not automatically lead to war declarations.

What role does the Security Council play in the effectiveness of the treaty?

What is the response to whether the treaty leads to an automatic declaration of war?