PLAN FOR EUROPE

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 September 1946, Page 7

PLAN FOR EUROPE

ChurchilFs Call to Common People PROPOSAL FOR UNITED STATES (Recd. 1 pan.) LONDON, Sept.-19. Speaking’ at Zurich, Mr. Churchill outlined a plan for the creation of a United States of Europe. Mr. Churchill said the structure of the United States of Europe would bo such that the small nations would count as much as the large ones. Germany’s ancient states and princi-. palities, freely federated for mutual convenience, might take their individual places in the United States. “If it is the wish of the Europeans of many lands to be free, prosperous and safe to enjoy the four freedoms and the Atlantic Charter principle, they have only to say so and the means will certainly be found and the machinery erected to carry the wish to full fruition. The salvation of the common people of every race and land must be created by the readiness of all 'men and women to die rather than submit to tyranny. The constant aim must, bo to fortify the United Nations.”

“Is the remedy Mr Churchill proposes for hex- ills one to which Europe will readily submit?” asks The Times in an editorial. “Many see in the speech proposals not for a United States of Europe but lor a United States of Western Europe. Mr Churchill said that if Russia came into the projected council of Europe all would be well.lt might be retorted that if Russia came m- all would be unnecessary. Mr Churchill based his speech on the assumption that Europe is already irrevocably divided between East and West and suggested that the common menace was the best stimulant for common action. Mr Bevin, however, has not yet despaired—he could not afford to despair—of averting the division of Europe and the world into two. British policy cannot work for such a United States as Mr Churchill meant. .British policy makers cannot be assisted in their patient labouis by the implications .which will be read into the Zurich speech. If the Government’s hopes of a wider unity prove in vain, then many winds will doubtless revert to Mr Churchill’s proposal for lesser but closer unity.”