On 22 October 1958, the Secretary-General of Western European Union (WEU) circulates draft replies prepared by the British delegation to questions 1, 2 and 6 put by the Committee on Defence Questions and Armaments of the WEU Assembly. On the matter of the withdrawal of the British army from the Rhine, the British Government states that it intends to maintain its current forces of 55 000 men until the end of 1959. The Council notes that it has received no request concerning a further reduction in the level of British forces or other forces stationed on the continent. On the question of tactical nuclear weapons, the Council explains that these questions are not within their remit but come under the authority of the Supreme Allied Commander, who acts under the direction of the North Atlantic Council (NAC). The WEU Council also points out that the North Atlantic Council is not currently considering arrangements for the joint control of the use of strategic nuclear weapons. It believes that any attempt to reach agreement on this matter would end in failure.