Evening star., 1952-09-26
European Assembly
Votes Pool 10 Develop
Resources Of Colonies
By the Assoeiused Press

SIRASBOURG, France, Sept.
26.-The Consultative Assembly of
the Council of Europe last night
approved a plan for its members
to pool their resources for the
development of European colonies
and dominions and to share in the
rewards.
The "Strasbourg plan" proposes
to create q vast new trading area
embracing the British Common
wealth. Western Europe and its
overseas territories and matching
either the Soviet bloc or the
United States in economic power.
It would enable West Germany,
which has no colonies, to help
create new sources of raw ma
terials in backward territories. It
also would bolster colonial peoples
against Communist penetration
by lifting their living conditions
and help take Europe of the re-
ceiving end of United States aid.
Must Act Individually.
The aSsembly's decisions are
not binding on member govern
ments. Any implementation of
the "Strasbourg plan" would have
to come about through action by
the individual countries.
The idea recalled general pro-
poSalS before World War II, when
Britain and France unSucceSSfully
sought peaceful settlement of Hit
ler'S demands for colonies by sug-
gesting equitable access for Ger
many to their colonial raw ma
terialS.
The assembly. on the motion of
West Germany's right-wing dep
uty, Johannes Semler. and Robert
Boothby. British Conservative,
adopted a report Of its economic
committee by a vote of 81 to o.
with six abstentionS.
Urging what would amount to-
. close economic union Of the Is
members Of the Council of Europe
and ali their overseas countries
and territories, Semler said the
report pointed the way to make
Europe Self-supporting.
Three Immediate Steps.
"The economic potential Of
these countries and territories, II
he said, "is in no way less than
the economic power Of either the
United States or the Soviet
Union"
The report urged these three
immediate steps to carry out an
eventual seven-point program:
l. Setting up a European bank
for the development of overseas
territories - which the United
States may be invited to help
finance.
2. Long-term international con-
tracts on basic products. covering
both quantities and prices, to as
sure markets to colonial producers.
3. A system of preferential
tariffs between Britain and the
Commonwealth countries on the
one hand. and other European ma
tions and their dependent terri
tories on the other.
The economic survey urged
these principles, with emphasis on
African areas:
l. Increased production of raw
materials, especially those now
imported from the dollar zone.
g. A policy of economic expan-
sion instead of restriction.
8. Utilization of the resources
Of all Council members for. the
equipment and development Of CO.
lonial regions.
4. An "open-door" policy for the
settlement of nationals from all
member states, and the establish
ment Of business concerns and
factories from all member states.
Would Coordinate Investments.
S. Coordination Of investment
programs, region by region. prod
uct by product.
6. The creation Of markets In
European states for produce from
colonial areas.
Z. Promotion in colonial areas
Of processing industries to handle
the raw materials developed there.
and of manufactures for local
consumption. as a means OF rails
ing the living standards in these
regions.
Liberals headed by Sweden's
Bertil Ohlin, Britain's Lord Lay
ton and Denmark'S Hermod
Lannung, waged successful fight
TO insert q qualification into the
clause dealing with preferential
tariffs