NEW EFFORT IS TO BE MADE TO FORM UNITED STATES OF EUROPE

Wanganui Chronicle, 23 February 1949, Page 5

NEW EFFORT IS TO BE MADE TO FORM UNITED STATES OF EUROPE

BRUSSELS, Feb. 22 (Rec. 12 2 a.m.) —A new effort to build up a United States of Europe will be made from Friday to Monday by 150 delegates from about 16 European countries meeting in Brussels, says the Associated Press.

These delegates will represent their countries at the first International Council of the Movement for a United Europe. The council’s agenda includes:— (1) Study of a recommendation to create a European International Court whose aim is to enforce the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. (2) The drafting and approval of a programme of European policy.

(3) Discussion of a general organisation of the Movement for United Europe. Representatives are leading personalities of their respective countries and include Mr. Churchill. They have been chosen from national groups and are aiming to unite European countries into one large co-operative economic and political group. M. Jean Drapier, the Belgian Prime Minister’s Chief of Cabinet and chairman of the Brussels Conference, said the idea of the movement was born at The Hague United Europe Congress in May, 1948. It was there that all the national movements decided to coordinate their efforts towards unity. They already had achieved one of the decisions of The Hague Conference—the creation of a European Assembly. M. Drapier said the movement had no effective power to enforce its recommendations.

“It is working to unify Europe through pressure exerted on those in power by public opinion.” he said. “Diplomacy must, be stimulated by public opinion to quicken its action towards unity.”