On 18 September 1975, the Council of Western European Union (WEU) circulates a draft reply to question 160 put by Mr Krieg, a member of the Assembly. The member had asked if the nuclear forces of two WEU member countries — France and the United Kingdom — are capable of playing a role in a western defence system based on selective nuclear retaliation. The draft reply, drawn up following the discussions that took place at the Council meeting on 17 September 1975, includes the original proposal by Britain and France (WPM(75)24) as well as a series of amendments proposed by other delegations. Opinions differ on the paragraph concerning the Declaration on Atlantic Relations signed in Ottawa, which the French and British see as explicitly recognising the deterrent role played by the two countries in the overall strengthening of the deterrence of the Alliance.