Priestley Advocates European Federation

Northern Advocate, 4 December 1939, Page 5

Priestley Advocates European Federation

(Received 12 noon) LONDON. December 3,

“We, are obviously living in a madhouse,” declared the author, Mr J. B. Priestley, who went on to advocate a federation of European States including a democratic Germany.

This federation would be on the lines of the United States of America, with a central government, one army, navy and air force, one currency, no customs barriers and one foreign policy. But each nation in charge of its own domestic affairs. The Professor of Political Science at the University of Cambridge (Mr Ernest Barker) is of the opinion that compulsory military service will become permanent. He thinks it will do good in levelling social classes, promoting discipline and developing youth at the critical age. In his view there will be probably an armed force after the war, even if it be a federal army. There will be less universalism, and more Europeanism after the war. Salvation would not come either from Russia or America.