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next majar step to be taken by the Com–
rnon Market!
The very foundation-stone of the
Cornrnon Market is
~he
Treaty of Rome.
Anyone who has carefully studied this
document knows full well that the ulti–
mate aim of the EEC is full political
union - not just economic and mone–
tary union!
At the conclusion of the meetings
the joint communiqué mentioned the
following irnportant points regarding
the EEC's final airo at política! union.
"Never befare have independent
states pushed their co-operation further,
[and] they were unanimous in their
opinion that by reason of the progress
made, the Community has now arrived
at a turning point in its history....
The expiry of the transitional period
at the end of the year (1969) has,
therefore, acquired major political signi–
ficance. Entry upon the final stage of
the Common Market not only rneans
confirming the irreversible nature of the
work accomplished by the communities,
but also means paving the way for a
united Europe capable of assuming its
responsibilities in the world of tomor–
row and of making a contribution com–
mensurate with its traditions and its
mission."
Europe Impatient
Many Europeans are becoming lm–
patient. They want European unity -
now! They want to begin taking defi–
nite steps toward that política! unity
so it will be realised in their lifetime!
A great deal was said at The Bague
about the need to unite Europe politi–
cally. Yet, did you even hear this re–
ported?
While walking near the Ridderzaal
(Knights Hall) where the Common
Market Summit Meeting was soon to
take place, I was handed a propaganda
leaflet by a supporter of a European
unity movement. This propaganda
leafl.et made the following significant
points:
"Whatever European Governments
say, we are stiU divided by frontiers! All
governments talk about one Europe; but
customs, duties and controls still divide
us. All governments call for unity; but
we still go on in our separate ways. All
governments promise security; but we
The
PLAIN TRUTH
are still balkanised, insecure and impo–
tent. Therefore help us to further our
aim for one government for Europe !"
History of European Unity
Why did Europeans begin thinking
about unity in the first place? What
caused them to begin trying to bring
about European political unity?
In the past, emperors and despots
have tried to unite Europe by the sword
- but all failed!
When the smoke and dust of World
War II had settled, the war-torn Conti–
nental nations realised their relative io–
significance in the world. They could
see themselves squeezed betweeo the
world's two giants - the U. S. A. and
the U.S.S.R.
It
soon dawned upon these
Continentals (and some Britons) that
they were no longer the shapers of their
owu destinies!
Unless they could pool their resources
- unless they could unite - they
would forever remain helpless pawns to
be juggled around between the two
super-powers, America and Russia. Thus
the idea of European unity was con–
ceived shortly after W orld War Il.
These nationalistically inclined Eu–
ropeans asked: "How can a new Europe
rise out of the ruins of World War JI
- lifting up its head with self-respect,
pri'de and confidence,?" Another ques–
tion haunted many Europeans: "How
can this
néu;
Europe become iofused
with political strength and stability -
without the re-emergence of aggressive
nationalism ?"
It
was Europt:!an nation–
alism (Nazisrn in particular) which had
plunged Europe headlong into the
world's most macabre bloodbath - re–
sulting in the death of over 50 million.
Another question which troubled
many Europeans was: "How can the
centuries-old enmities, jealousies and
bitter hostilities between France and
Germany be ended - once and for
al!
?"
No less a personage than Sir Winston
Churchill first gave ímpetus to the idea
of European integration. In his cele–
brated speech at Zurich in 1946, he de–
clared: "We must build a kind of
U11ited States of Europe."
Mr. Churchill later rnade it crystal
clear that when he spoke of a United
States of Europe - he included Britain
and her Commonwealth. Not for one
February,
1970
moment did he ever contemplate the
"dimioution of the Cornmonwealth."
From the very beginning, the U . S.
loudly applauded the idea of a United
States of Europe. America spent nearÍy
50 billion dollars ( mostly through the
Marshall Plan) helping Europe get back
on its economic feet.
This massive U. S. monetary trans–
fusion (injected into a prostrate Europe
where 100 million were living at, or
near, the starvation level at the close of
World War II
!)
accomplished what it
was designed to accomplish - the com–
plete and speedy economic recovery of
W estern Europe!
But there was nothing in the Mar–
shall Plan which would directly help
Europeans to set up a strong and demo–
cratic, supra-national government - a
strong United States of Europe. Conti–
nentals decided to remedy this situation.
So in 1948 Europe's política! leaders
met at The Hague to discuss the matter
of European unity. Tbey arrived at the
conclusion that a European Parliament
should be established which could bring
about the political uoification of Eu–
rope.
Far-sighted European politicians de–
cided to launch a revolutionary, unique
scheme whereby there would be a grad–
ual transfer of national sovereign
powers over to a CO!llinon supra-national
organisation which would have, at the
outset, real, but limited, federal powers
over contracting states.
Robert Schuman, French Foreign
Minister, outlined this plan (later re–
ferred to as the Schuman Plan) to the
world on May 9th, 1950. He proposed
that France and West Germaoy (and
any other interested European coun–
tries) pool their coal and steel re–
sources. He hoped this would make war
between France and Germany impos–
sible. The Schuman Plan also provided
a blueprint for the future political in–
tegration of Europe -
the estab–
lishment of the long-dreamed-of United
States of Europe.
The basic idea of this plan was to
create among the nations of Europe a de
facto solidarity - primarily in the eco–
nomic sphere at first! The nations of
Europe could be united only through a
slow, gradual integration of their
economies and their political m-