Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 1950. COUNCIL OF EUROPE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 256, 16 August 1950, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 1950. COUNCIL OF EUROPE

The Council of Europe has reached its first birthday, and there are many students of international affairs who are closely watching- the present session to see whether this newest organisation will develop into something really useful, or whether it will be content merely to talk politics. In the view of some, the reappointment of the Belgian Socialist, Mr Paul Spaak as president was a mistake, in view of the prominent part he played in the unrest in Belgium. However, he was returned by 90 votes to 23, so it would seem that most of the delegates considered Mr Spaak’s attitude the correct one in the circumstances. This “Parliament of Europe’’ has new headquarters, which, incidentally, cost £312,000, so it would seem to have some idea of permanency. Western Germany is included among the member nations, and this is perhaps a good thing so far as the future of Europe is concerned. Basically this Council consists of the Committee of Ministers—that is, of Foreign Ministers representing the member Governments—and the Consultative Assembly, a purely deliberative body, the members of which represent parliaments. At the outset it was felt that some difficulty would be experienced in unifying the work of the different sections, but this has been solved by the creation of a liaison committee. The Committee of Ministers has also decided to appoint a subcommittee to establish and extend contacts with the Organisation'for European Economic Cooperation, which has administered an unmistakable rebuff to the Council. Summing up the position after the August meetings, a commentator of the Royal Institute of Foreign Affairs wrote: “The Assembly achieved freedom of discussion and accomplished much useful work. If it is allowed to bring other international organisations within its sphere, and if the various proposals for increasing its powers are adopted, the preliminary measures toward creating the conditions in which a political authority with limited functions but real powers can be established will have been achieved.” There are many matters of a vital nature to come up during the present session, which is expected to last a month. Human rights is a matter which has caused no small amount of discussion, and it is more than likely that some sort of Bill will emerge before the session ends. Defence is another thorny problem, especially in view of the statement by a West German delegate that German soldiers should not be called on in the event of aggression. The present session should also be most useful for ascertaining broader reactions to the develop-; ment of the Schuman Plan.