On 14 February 1957, in anticipation of the forthcoming Western European Union (WEU) Ministerial Meeting, on 26–27 February in London, Lord Hood, British delegate to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), forwards a note to the Western Department of the Foreign Office, on the statement he made to the WEU Council concerning the reduction of British forces. The discussion with the different delegates focused on whether or not representatives from NATO should be invited to the next WEU Ministerial Meeting to examine British force reductions.