Evening star., 1949-08-09
Council Of Europe

The 0rSt 1uncClOLdl SteQ Is DclllS IdheA
now toward the realization Of that United
States of Europe" which for centuries has
been the dream Of idealists and the in
spiration of statesmen. The Council OF
Europe, with ten-nation membership, Is
converting for the first time at Strasbourg,
France This meeting-place Is itself SYM
bolic. The ancient Alsatian city on the
Rhine was deliberately chosen, because 1t
is both a meeting point of French and
German cultures and chronic bone OF
contention between those two peoples. Sc
lecting Strasbourg as the seat OF the Coun-
ell thus symbolizes alike that supersession
of traditional enmities and furtherance OF
common ties that must be the spiritual
foundation on which true European
union can be based.
Although the idea of European union
runs back centuries, its concrete embodi-
ment is less than year old. Last Janu-
uary, the five Brussels Treaty countries
britain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands,
and tiny Luxembourg agreed to set up
Council of Europe. The move, was CATCH
ing, for in the next few months five more
countries Joined, these being the Scandina-
Wan trio-Denmark, Norway and Sweden
plus Fire and Italy. In May, these ten
charter members held a preparatory meet
ing in London, where the institutional
framework was drawn up and Strasbourg
was selected as the Councils convention
spot.
This Council of Europe is not full
blown federation. It's powers and jurisd1c-
ton are both limited. Executive functions
are exercised by Committee of Ministers
representing the signatory governments,
each having one seat. What may be termed
the lower chamber Is the Consultative
Assembly, whose membership corresponds
roughly to the size and population of the
signatories, the method Of choice being
left for each country to decide. Major
political decisions and defense matters are
specifically excluded from the councils de-
alterations. It's aims are entirely peaceful,
and its activities are intended to be main
ly in the fields of social, cultural and juri
dical relations. Yet it is precisely these
non-controversial limitations that have
enabled countries like Sweden and Fire to
Join up. And the chances are that further
accessions are likely, because the terms
of admission are not exacting. To qualify,
as the charter or statute" phrases it, q
European state "must accept principles of
the rule of law and of enjoyment by all
persons within its jurisdiction of human
rights and fundamental freedoms" That
makes eligible all European nations which
hold to democratic, freedom-loving way
Of life, though it impliedly excludes states
with totalitarian institutions and practices.
All this is obviously long way from q
UNITED States of Europe" Nevertheless,
the germ of an organic federation is there
The Ministers Committee Is rudimentary
executive, while the Consultative Assembly
Is even more clearly an embryonic legisla-
ture or parliament. The federative path
Is open. 1t can be followed as Europes
peoples desire 1t and sense the need.
Impelling factors are plain enough.
Economically, Europe is still a maze of
tariff walls and uncoordinated currencies
which even Marshall-Plan aid IL unable
more than slightly to ameliorate. Political
ly and strategically, Europe Is under the
constant menace of Russian-led Commu-