Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-09-04
Robert Schumon Dies:
Father Of Europe Unity

METZ, France, Sept. 4 (AP) i.
Robert Schuman, often called
the father of European unity,
died today after a long illness.
He was IT.
Mr.. Schuman laid out the
plan for the European coal and
steel pool, a production and
marketing organization linking
France, West Germany, Italy,
Belgium, Holland and Luxem-
bourg.
The same countries later
formed the Common Market, or
the European Economic Com
munity. Promoters of European
unity hope the Common Market
will develop into a Europe
welded together politically as
well as economically.
The "Schuman plan" was I'M
yelled in 1850, when its author
was Foreign Minister of France.
In a statement, French For
eign Minister Maurice Couve de
Murville said Mr.. Schuman was
lone of the first to discern and
to define what should be and
what remains a main course of
French policy: French German
reconciliation and cooperation
and European unity"
President Charles de Gaulle,
in a letter sent to a relative of
Mr.. Schuman, said: I'm the
name Of the nation, salute
the great conscience with which
he served his country and the
eminent contribution which he
made to the cause of a United
Europe"
I'm Washington, President
Kennedy issued the following
statement:
C'Robert Schuman combined
vision with realism. He was a
friend Of free men every
where. His proposal for a
European Coal and Steel Com
munity marked the beginning
Of progress toward European
unity. Robert Schuman was
a citizen Of France, Europe
and Of the world whose
passing I mark with great
regret"
Mr.. Schuman became seri-
ously i'll last month and re-
ceived the final rites of the
Catholic Church. He was suf-
fering from a stroke and res
piratory trouble.
Death came at Mr.. Schu-
mans estate near this city in
Eastern France.
A native Of Luxembourg, Mr..
Schuman was Schooled as a
lawyer and entered public life
shortly after World War I. His
goal soon became European
unity, which he pursued as viz
tually his sole passion in a
lonely, secluded life.
He had been in failing health
since early In 1861 when he
collapsed while walkin g
through the hills near his es-
tate. He spent the winter night
lying helplessly on q hillside
and was found the next morn
ing by a search party.
After q long recuperation, he
suspended his political activity
and finished an autobiography.
1t is expected to be published
soon.
An ascetic bachelor, Mr..
Schuman became Premier Of
France in the early years of the
unstable Fourth Republic es-
tabliShed after World War II.
He served as Premier for about
seven months, beginning in late
1947, and again for only three
days in late 1913. Later he was
Foreign Minister for more than
four years.
Mr.. Schuman was member
of the Catholic Popular Re-
publican Party when it was a
political power.
He was twice Finance Min
lister and brought his almost
monastic way of life to the
ministry. He cut out numerous
telephone lines and was some
times seen going through min
istry offices putting out lights.
He didn't own a car and fire.
quently Travelled about Paris
on public buses.
Bald, lanky and stopped, he
wore gold-rimmed spectacles to
correct near-sightedness. His
physical characteristics were
the delight of political car
toonistS. He had a gentle,
scholarly manner, liked beer,