CHURCHILL’S CALL FOR PARLIAMENT OF EUROPE

Grey River Argus, 10 May 1948, Page 5

CHURCHILL’S CALL FOR PARLIAMENT OF EUROPE

Congress Opens at The Hague THE HAGUE, May 8 A United Europe should be a. “movement of peoples; and not of parties,” said Mr Churchill when he opened the United Europe Congress tins aiternoon. He said that any conclusions the congress might reach fairly claim to be the voice of Europe ■ Mr Churchill welcomed the delegation from Germany. He said it was the proud mission of the victor nations to take the Germans by the hand and lead them back into th? European family, A world organisation could function only with active aid from Russia. Russia made one great regional group and ultimate effective world government would rest on these groupings. He hoped that the peoples of Scandinavia, Spain, Portugal and Italy would soon join the sixteen European States (the sixteen recipients of Marshall aidl, which now formed the nucleus of* a united Europe. Nearly SOO delegate representing ing, sixteen nations are attending the congress, which is an unofficial organisation, but which includes many leading European statesmen. The congress is being held in the Netherlands House of Parliament. Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard occupied the seats of honour below the tribune FOUR ASPECTS Four aspects of his address —which was DroKtm oy irequent. enthusiastic applause—particularly impressed Mr cnurcnul’s audience. They were: — (.1) His appeal mat tJ e drive to wards a united Europe should be a movement ot peoples, a movement, in which there would be no room for personal or party jealousies. (2) His emphasis on the impossibil ity of separating economics and defence tro.n tne.general political structure of any union. He said thm mutual aid in -the economic sphere, and joint military defence must in evitaoly be accompanied by the parallel quality of closer political unity (3 His reiteration of his “brotherly love" attitude towards the defeated Germans. He said it was the proud mission of the victor nations to take the Germans by the hand and lead them back into the European iamily. He rejoiced that some oi the most eminent and most powerful Frenchmen had spoken in tne same sense. “To rebuild Europe from its ruins and make its light snine forth again on the world we must first conquer ourselves.” . , . (4'l His sketch of the relationship of the international groupings to a paramount world organisation. The audience listened in rapt attention when Mr Churchill said he had envisaged "several regional councils, august but subordinate, and that these should form the massive pillars upon which the world organisation would be founded in majesty and calm.” EUROPEAN ASSEMBLY Mr Churchill, in calling for a Parliament of Europe, .-.aid: “we must resolve that in one iorm or another a European assemoiy snai. ue constituted which will be able to ffiake itself continuously heard, and we trust with evergrowing acceptance through all the free countries of this Continent. The movement tor European unity must be. a dynamic expression of democratic raith —a positive rorce n.nving its strength from our common sense of spiritual values. We seek nothing less tnan all Europe. We aim at the eventual participation ol all peoples throughout the Continent, whose society ano way of life is in accord vJUth the Charter of Human Rights. We will welcome any country where the people own the government a.’<i not the government the people.” Mr CJiurchill said that Europe could omy be united by the heartfelt wish and vehement expression of the great majority oi all peoples ot all parties in ah freedom-loving count--1 He was anxious at first lest the United States would be hostile to the idea of United States of Europe, but he rejoiced that the United States had risen far above such moods. A Council of Europe was a subordinate, but necessary, part of the United Nations. He had thought that the design for world government might have followed the system of three or more groups —armies of peace—first, a Council ot of Europe, including Britain and her Commonwealth, secondly, the Western Hemisphere, and thirdly, the Soviet Union. ■ ' , . “I had hoped that each o£ these three groupings might have settled within themselves a great number ot the differences which were dragged up to the nUited Nations,” he said. “ ±’o some extent " events moved in this direction, but not in the spirit which was needed. The Western Hemisphere already presents itself as a unit. ATTITUDE OF DISCORD “We are met to help our various governments create a new Europe but we are all grieved, perplexed and imperilled by tne discordant attitude ana policy oi a third great and equal partner, without whose active aid a world organisation cannot function, nor has rhe shadow ot war oeen lilted fromtne hearts and minds of men. We must endeavour to prepare ror tne aay wnen mere will oe an eliective world government resting upon the main groupings of mankind. “Thus, for us and all who share our civilisation ana desire for peace and world government, there is only one duty and one watchword —persevere. We in Britain must move in harmony, with our great partners in the Comomnwealth who, 1 do not doubt, share our trend of thought. A high and solemn responsibility rests upon us. If we all pull together and firmly grasp the larges hopes of humanity then we shall move together into a happier, sunlit age, when all the little children now growing up in this tormented world may iina<;.»mselves not. victors or vanquished in the fleeting triumphs of one country over another, but the heirs of all the science and the abundance of the glories of the future.” The entire Congress rose to its feet and' clapped Mr Churchill as he ended his speech. Mr Pieter Kerstens, chairman of the Dutch delegation, said that through the “folly of an individual sovereign policy,” Europe had become a “Helplessly divided, vulnerable Continent with all the characterist l s of a civilisation doomed to go under. FRENCH SUPPORT M. Paul Ramadier former Premier of France said that the European countries would maintain their place in the world only by founding a United Europe. The organisation of a United Europe was no longer a question of prestige, but of movennvvc for political and economic defence. M. Ramadier hailed Mr Churchill as the “true beginner of the great movement of opinion which, is raising great hope in your anguish.” The new flag of Europe—a large red “E” on a white background flew from all The Hagues public buildings. The flag was designed by Mr Duncan Sandys, Mr ' n The J Congress unanimously resolved to invite other nations not now participating, to associate themselves with the ideal of a United Europe. The resolution was proposed by tne Co-ordinating Committee of the Congress.