The Petersberg Agreement is an international treaty that extended the rights of the government of West Germany vis-a-vis the occupying forces of the United Kingdom, France, and the United States. It is viewed as the first major step of West Germany towards sovereignty. It was signed by West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer and Allied High Commissioners Brian Hubert Robertson (United Kingdom), André François-Poncet (France), and John J. McCloy (United States) on 22 November 1949. The Hotel Petersberg, near Bonn, was the seat of the High Commissioners and the place of signature. The agreement was the first modification of the Occupation Statute. Terms West Germany was permitted to join the Council of Europe as an associate member. West Germany agreed to sign a bilateral agreement with the U.S. regarding Marshall plan aid (see next section). West Germany agreed to send delegates to the International Authority for the Ruhr, effectively accepting some international control of the Ruhr district (see next section). West Germany agreed to remain demilitarised, without armed forces of any kind, and to support the work of the occupation authorities in this respect. West Germany was permitted to engage in international trade, as well as to establish consular relations. (The creation of a foreign office was still prohibited.) West Germany agreed to follow the principles of liberty, tolerance and humanity and to prevent any reviving of totalitarian efforts. West Germany agreed to implement legislation for the sake of decartelisation in accordance with the occupation statute. West Germany was permitted to construct ocean-going ships with restricted capabilities. The industrial dismantling programme was modified by the removal of a select number of industrial plants from the dismantling list. The West German request for an end to the state of war was noted, but not granted. Context Adenauer was heavily criticized in parliament for his signing of the agreement, particularly due to the Ruhr issue. The International Authority for the Ruhr was established on 28 April 1949. Of the 15 votes, 3 were assigned to the German state, although voted as a block by a representative of the occupation authority. By agreeing to join the control council of the authority, West Germany gained control of those three votes, but also accepted the control of the authority over West Germany's main industrial center. In the following debate in parliament, Adenauer stated: The Allies have told me that dismantling would be stopped only if I