Commoners Call For Western Federation

Northern Advocate, 13 March 1948, Page 7

Commoners Call For Western Federation

LONDON, Fri. (10 a.m.). —A motion tabled in the House of Commons by 73 back-bench Commoners, including Labourites, Conservatives, Liberals and Liberal Nationals, calls for the immediate establishment of a council for Western Europe, with authority to coordinate social, economic, and defence policies, organise trade, and stabilise currency.

The motion seeks a European union in the fullest sense of a Parliament of a federated Western Europe. The signatory Commoners will urge a Commons debate at the earliest moment. They expect a further 103 signatures in the next few days. The resolution demands: (1) Immediate steps, in consultation with the. British Commonwealth, to create in Western Europe a political union “strong enough to save European democracy and achieve economic stability.” (2) An emergency policy designed to establish immediately a council for

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 coordinating staffs. (3) A long-term policy designed to bring into being a democratic federation of Europe in principles of common citizenship, political freedom and human rights. The resolution has been sent to the countries concerned, The signatories believe Western European Governments should convene a constituent assembly reprcsenting the participating states.