European Atlantic Group

The European-Atlantic Group was founded in London in 1954 by Michael John Layton, 2nd Baron Layton (1912 - 1989) (then a Vice-President of the Council of Europe), together with other members of both Houses of Parliament, Industrialists, Bankers, Economists, and Journalists. Its main object was to promote closer relations between the European and Atlantic countries by providing a regular forum in Britain for informed discussion of their problems and possibilities for better economic and political co-operation.

The Founders stated that their purpose was to disseminate authoritative information concerning the work of International Organizations such as the Council of Europe, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the Western European Union, the European Coal and Steel Community, Euratom, the European Economic Community, as well as the European Free Trade Association, the Association for General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs, and the Economic Commission for Europe.

In addition to holding monthly dinners and meetings in London, the group sent many delegations abroad to study at first hand the European and NATO institutions in Brussels, Paris, and Luxembourg, as well as visiting Germany, Italy, Turkey, and Greece, as the guests of governments and International Organizations. Group representatives have also visited the United States, the Soviet Union and theEastern Bloc with the object of improving relations between West and East.

The Group has also held Discussions on European-Atlantic relations with the rest of the world, including the Middle East, Far East, and Latin American countries.

In 1989 the Group's London office was at 6 Gertrude Street, Chelsea. The President was the Rt.Hon. The Earl of Bessborough, D.L.,(a Founder), and there was an impressive list of Vice-Presidents, including the Marquess of Lansdowne, the Earl of Limerick, the Earl Jellico, The Lord Carrington, The Lord Chalfont, The Lord Shawcross, The Lord Granchester. Sir Nicholas Henderson, Sir Frederic Bennett, Sir Fitzroy Maclean, Bt., General Sir Harry Tuzo, and Douglas Fairbanks junior. The Chairman was the Rt.Hon. Geoffrey Rippon, Lord Rippon of Hexham, Q.C., Vice-Chairmen were Sir Antony Buck, Q.C., M.P., and Sir W Hugh-Jones. The Hon.Director was Mrs Elma Dangerfield, O.B.E.

At their Banquet (24 April 1989) in the Guildhall, London, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of NATO, the guests-of-honour and speakers were HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, K.G., Herr Manfred Woerner, Secretary-General of NATO, and General John Galvin, US Army, Supreme Allied Commander in Europe.

Reference

• European-Atlantic Group Reports, 1954-1989, London. 1989.