On October 31, 1949 a preparatory meeting of representatives of the northern European regional planning group – Britain, Denmark and Norway – was held in London. It was attended by the defense ministers, their chiefs-of-staff and other advisers of the three countries. Instructions necessary for the permanent establishment of this group, for meetings of the chiefs-of-staff of member countries, as well as for meetings of the ministers themselves were issued. There was to be also a permanent committee of principal staff officers in London, responsible to the chiefs-of-staff, to provide day-to-day coordination.