The Council of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) met in joint session with the military committee on March 17, 1958, to exchange views on NATO defense needs. In a later meeting the Council, after studying the possible convening of a summit conference, approved a draft declaration, which was presented to the Soviet government on March 31, setting forth the western position on the preparation of such a conference. The message stated that preparatory work, such as exchanges through diplomatic channels leading to a meeting between foreign ministers, was necessary to examine the position of the various governments on the major questions at issue and to establish what subjects should be submitted for examination by heads of government. The foreign ministers would reach agreement on the date and place of the summit meeting and decide on its composition. The note stated that if this procedure were acceptable to the Soviet government it was suggested that diplomatic exchanges should start in Moscow in the second half of April.