Evening star., 1950-02-21
West European Chiefs
5eeReaI Need Of Unity
But Stress Difficulty
BY The Asse<fatsd prsss

by The Asse<fatsd Prsss
NEW YORK, Feb. 21.-A poll Of
Europe's leaders on the chances
OF West European unity In the
near future has brought q ma
jority Of answers that boil down
to, I'VE like 1t, but :"
Most Of the answers-especiAlly
the official government state
nents-acknowledged . real need
for political and economic union.
but stressed the difficulties Of
getting it.
The poll was made BY Maj.
Gen. William ]. Donovan. chair
man Of the American Committee
ON United Europe. Others listed
~ members OF the committee in
clude Allen w. Dulles and Gen.
Lucius D. Clay.
OF all the big powers. Great
Britain's Socialist government
took the most cautious view. On
the other hand. Winston Church
Ill made one Of the strongest
statements Of all for immediate
union.
The replies were to two ques-
tions asked by Gen. Donovan, war
time director Of the ONCE Of Stra-
tegic Services:
/. "Are there immediate pros
poets Of the Council Of Europe
achieving tangible results In the
direction Of economic integration
and political unity?
2. IF there are differences
among the members Of the COM
mite of ministers COT the Council
of Europe) which suggest that
some are less prepared than others
to make rapid progress towards
full European unity, what in your
opinion can, or should, be done?"
Most of the answers were. in
general terms.
One of the most sweeping in
dorsements Of unity came from
Konrad Adenauer. chancellor Of
the (Wes+) German federal re-
Germany desires wholeheart-
edly the unification Of Europe"
DR.. Adenauer wrote. Germany
will always be ready to make the
sacrifices necessary for the reali-
ztion Of such q plan"
Attlee Confident.
Prime Minister Clement Attlee
of Great Britain said substantial
results have been achieved and
His Majesty's government are con-
fident that further progress will
be made"
But Foreign Secretary Bevin
acknowledged there has been
criticism that some nations, par
ticularly England, are unwilling
to commit themselves.
Mr.. Churchill, wartime Prime
Minister of England, said:
Il have during recent years re-
peatedly and emphatically de-
clared that for the sake of peace
and prosperity Europe must unite.
I believe profoundly in this policy
and shall continue to do all In
my power to bring it to early full
fillment."
Other comments from ministers
and non-government leaders:
Vincent Auriol, president Of
France:
Everything that tends toward
the reconstruction and unifica-
ton of Europe has not only the
sympathy but the active support
of France We know this is not
only an ideal but a necessity
which sooner or later must be
accomplished"
De Gasperi Comments.
Alcide de Gasperi, Prime Minis
ter of Italy:
There are people who feel con-
cerned about certain sloWness,
an excessive gradualness. on the
road toward economic integration
and political unifcation of Europe.
However. a rational gradualness
should be for our friends reason.
not Of diStrust, but of assurance"
Paul-Henri Spaak, former pre-
mier of Belgium and president of
the Consultative Assembly of the
Council of Europe:
"It is my feeling that the meet
ing (of the Committee of Min
isters) was badly prepared for and
perhaps, I shall dare to say so.
by functionaries who as a whole
had very little belief in Europe
and its possibilities, and all these
new questions irked them because
they did not perceive the reasons
which might be given for them"