Evening star., 1950-06-04
Six Nations Join
Coal, Steel Pool;
Britain HoIds0ut
London Pays Tribute
To PIon But BuIks
At Commitment Now
BY the Asseeioied Press

ef me %SsectoIeo PfesS
PARIS, June 3.-Six European
countries. but not Britain, agreed
today to form coal-steel alliance
to produce the sinews of heavy in
dustry together in peace.
Western Germany and Italy
thus were brought into a common
economic effort with France. Hol-
land, Belgium and Luxembourg
for pooledp reduction of basic
materials that can be-and have
been-turned easily to war pro-
duction in nationalistic hands.
The union of the ex-enemies in
this unique fashion has the bless
ing of the United States, which
has heavily staked the postwar
economic reconstruction of Eu-
rope. and Of the United Nations
outside the Soviet orbit.
British Balk 1T Joining.
Britain baked at joining or
making any commitment on the
plan, which will give British in
dustrialists and the Labor govern
ment something to think about
until the final British decision is
made.
But the British came forth after
the Paris announcement with q
communique in London paying
tribute to "the bold and far-reach-
ing Importance" of the plan.
1t was the brain-child of French
Foreign Minister Schuman. He
launched it without warning May
8 as a proposal to rub out the
French and German national bar
riers on coal and steel.
Mr.. Schuman surmised that
theix total joint production could
be far greater than the sum, of
their separate competitive efforts.
For example. the industrial Ruhr
needs French coal and France
needs the Ruhr steel but each put
a premium on the materials they
exchanged with each other.
Britain Caught by Surprise.
It was obvious that Mr.. Schu-
man was thinking deeply. of
French security against German
neighbors who have invaded
France three times since 1870 and
that the combination would serve
as checkmate on any newly ris-
ing German militarism.
1t was fairly clear. too. that
Britain. struggling on an srstere
domestic level to win back high
place in world trade. was caught
by surprise.
The first British reaction to a
secret French note asking Britain
to join was a refusal to make any
commitment on the plan until it
passed the preliminary negotia-
ton stage. A second French note
failed to bring Britain In.
But the other countries, after
thinking itov er, came along with
France and with the West German
government at Bonn which was
first to indorse il. The proposal
won out even though it ran counter
to many established ideas of econ
omists.
Sovereignty Yielded.
The Schuman plan represents a
historic surrender of national SOW
ereignty Of all the six countries
in their economy.
"It is the first time in the history
Of the world" a French govern
ment spokesman said. that coun-
tries whose differences have caused
so many wars. are getting together
to create a community Of inter-
eSts that will eliminate the cause
Of wars"
The way they hope to do this is
by turning over major decisions of
their pooled coal and steel indus
tries to an independent interna-
tional high authority.
The coal-steel pool is one of
series of recent developments in
Paris for European unity where
the job is hardest-in the areas
OF the pocketbook and breadbas-
ket.
The political front was also
briefly active today when the
Council Of Europe - sometimes
(See POOL, Page A-3.)