WEST EUROPEAN FEDERATION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22585, 13 March 1948, Page 5

WEST EUROPEAN FEDERATION

BRITISH M.P.’S PROPOSAL TO COMMONS IMMEDIATE CREATION OF COUNCIL (N.Z.P.A.—Reuter— Copyright.) (11 a.m.) LONDON, March 12. A motion tabled in the House of Commons by 73 back-bench members, including Labour, Conservatives, Liberals and Liberal Nationals, calls for the immediate establishment of a Council for Western Europe, with authority to co-ordinate social, economic and defence policies, organise trade, and stabilise currency.

The motion seeks a European* Union in the fullest sense of Parliament of a federated AY estern Europe.

The signatory members will urge a debate in the House of Commons at the earliest moment. They expect a further 100 signatures in mo next days. The resolution demands: 1. Immediate steps, in consultation with the British Commonwealth, to create in western Europe a political union “strong enougn to save European democracy and achieve economic stability.” 2. An emergency policy designed to establish immediately a Council of Western Europe, comprising the Marshall Plan nations and Western Germany. The council would lay down the broad lines of common action and establish permanent international co-ordinating staffs. 3. A long-term policy designed to bring into being a democratic federation of Europe in the principles of common citizenship, political, freedom and human rights. The resolution has been sent to the countries concerned. The signatories believe that Western European Governments should convene a constituent assembly, representing the participating States.