Evening star., 1948-05-15
Small Regional Unions Advocated


To the Editor of The Star:
Winston Churchilrs latest eloquent plea for
a European federation may well be the most
imaginative and constructive proposal made
since World War II. It is especially import
ant that this world citizen has sought to en-
courage the idea Of including Germany in the
proposed federation and that he has en-
phasized the idea of being good European
Inclusion of Germany is the only good way
to control the remnants of Nazism, to resist
Red Fascism and to lead the German people
toward creative and democratic objectives.
The writer 80 months ago advocated in The
Star the inclusion of Germany in such new
political group. AS Lenin said, whoever con-
trolls Germany controls Europe" The idea Of
good European" gives the needed emotional
lift to the whole program, something which
was lacking before.
However. believe Mr.. Churchill goes too far
in advocating the inclusion of all non-Rus-
sian Europe, along with two other large world
groupings, IN his overall plans A federation
which is close enough to be satisfactory must
not try to embrace too large an area with too
many racial and political differences. The
United States Of Europe might include Ger
many to the Oder and East Neisse rivers, Bo-
hemia, Austria Finland and all the rest Of
Western Europe. Inclusion of more than this
will not be accepted; moreover, some of the
satellite countries of Russia may be able to
play useful democratic roles in future Rus
sian or Eurasian federation. Greece and Tur-
key better might belong to Mediterranean
federation that also is being advocated at
this time.
While strong and democratic Europe should
be the immediate objective, the long run aim
should be the establishment of 10 or II
regional federations around the world. Each
of these could be made close enough and small
enough so that 1t would have reasonable unity
and strength. Each of these could be repre-
sented In the United Nations. The fact that
they would not be formally combined to-
gether would lessen dangers of Russian ag-
gression due to Russias fear of encirclement.
Yet they would be able to cooperate inform
ally by agreement to resist Communist ag-
gression.
Mr.. Churchill's proposed three big regional
groups, the proposed Transatlantic Union, and
the United World Federalist Plan are all too
ambitious The only acceptable world organi-
zation now must remain the U. N. That or
ganizations powers gradually can be increased
with reference to some subjects, power over
the least controversial subjects of world poll
tics being entrusted to the U. NJ first, while the
regional unions simultaneously are being
formed
The desirability and acceptability of a Euro
pean union as the one which should first be
formed, Is proved by the fact that leading
Europeans actually are promoting and work.
ing on the idea. This regional union will be
relatively the easiest to form; and its forma-
ton by promoting economic recovery will en-
able Europe to contribute sooner to the pro-
gress and prosperity Of less developed parts OF
the world. We should give Mr.. Church.
ills mission all possible assistance. He is the
first prophet of the New Order.
QUINTIN M. SANGER.