Evening star., 1953-02-27
Agreement at Rome

The atmosphere of agreement and concilia-
tion which surrounded the Rome meeting Of
the European Defense Community foreign
ministers encourages hopes that the European
army project, and other steps toward CONT
mental unifcation, are once more on the path
toward realization.
Briefly, the accords reached at the two-day
session were that pressure for reasonably quick
parliamentary action on the army treaty should
be exerted in the six capitals involved, and that
studies be launched Immediately for creation of
a customs union and common market among
the six countries.
The hopes engendered by these decisions
however, must be tempered by realistic
appreciation of the obstacles remaining. The
unanimous support given the army pact with
emphasis upon the extreme urgency attending
its ratification, was gained when Frances For
eign Minister Bidault consented to redrafting
of the protocols which his government had
suggested be appended to the treaty. Original
reaction to the protocols had been that they
violated the concepts of integration and equality
of treatment which are the essence of the
Supranational army idea The redrafting is
to be directed at overcoming this criticism at
the same time keeping in mind the response
bilitieS that some of the parties France in
particularly have in overseas territories" It
was further decided that the protocols will be
interpretive texts outside the formal body Of
the treaty, and consequently will not require
parliamentary ratification in themselves. This
latter condition means that legislative action
on the treaty can be undertaken without wait
ing for final shaping of the protocols.
While this substantial concession from the
French side was greeted warmly by the other
five treaty members and may be an important
factor in expediting ratification in their legiS-
latureS, it is not so certain it will be pleasing
to the French National Assembly. 1t was
largely to meet the factional resistance to the
army project that the government of Premier
Mayer undertook the presentation Of clarifying
protocols" and any major revision in substance
in the guarantees sought through these pro-
visions may create new political crisis in
Paris. Coincidentally, General de Gaulle,
consistent fee of the supranational army and
leader of solid bloc in the Assembly, issued
new denunciation of the project on the final
day of the foreign ministers meeting. Since
France and West Germany, where compa-
rably delicate political situation exists, are
the key powers in the six-nation community
the reactions of their legislatures are most
important.
The agreement on the customs union
sponsored primarily by the Netherlands govern
ment, was more an Endorsement of principle
than of specific action. The integration of six
national economies is more complex task
than the merging of armies. 1t has had its
start, however, in creation Of the Coal and
Steel Authority and high degree Of optimism
has accompanied this venture. The expansion
and variation of this concept to a broader
economic base will require long and careful
planning, but real step forward was taken
at Rome.
On the whole, the two-day meeting may
prove to be significant milestone in the
progress toward West European unity and
greater strength.