On 15 May 1968, the Secretary-General of Western European Union (WEU) circulates the Council’s reply to Assembly Recommendation 160 on the defence of the Mediterranean and the NATO southern flank. The Council considers that the establishment by the United Nations of an international body to supervise the implementation of the Convention of Constantinople of 1888 covering the passage of vessels through the Suez Canal would not prevent a return to crisis situations such as that of 1956. The Council would also welcome the establishment of international measures for the effective control of the trade in arms.