The talks lasted about two weeks and by the time they finished, it had been secretly agreed that there would be a treaty, and I had a draft of one in the bottom drawer of my safe. It was never shown to anyone except Jack [Hickerson]. I wish I had kept it, but when I left the Department in 1950, I dutifully left it in the safe and I have never been able to trace it in the archives. It drew heavily on the Rio Treaty, and a bit of the Brussels Treaty, which had not yet been signed, but of which we were being kept heavily supplied with drafts. The eventual North Atlantic Treaty had the general form, and a good bit of the language of my first draft, but with a number of important differences.
tHE talks Lasted aBoUT two WeEKS aNd BY the timE theY FiNIshed, it had beeN secrEtly agreed that therE would be a TReatY, And i hAd a drafT oF one in the botTom drawEr of my sAFe. it wAS Never ShoWN to ANyONe eXcePT JACk [hIckersoN]. i WiSH i haD KepT it, but when I lefT THE dEpartmeNt In 1950, i duTifUlly LeFt iT in the safe AnD I have neveR bEen abLE to Trace It In THe arChIVes. iT DREw Heavily On the rIo trEAtY, and a bIT of tHe brusSels treAtY, whicH had not yeT been SiGNed, buT of whiCh we weRE BeINg kepT heAVily suPPlieD with dRAFts. The evenTuaL nORth atlanTic Treaty had THE genEraL FOrm, ANd a gooD bit of the language of my fIrst draft, but wITh a nUMber oF importAnt DifFerences.