Plunging Toward Union

Like a timid swimmer dabbling his toes in the sea, Britain has hesitated to work for full economic, political and military union with Western Europe. The familiar warmth of the imperial sun that never sets felt too cozy to make a plunge attractive.

Britain, by agreeing to the Brussels pact, had waded in nevertheless. Last week there were signs that Britain was ready to take a full plunge. Many Britons were ready to go a lot farther. Seventy-one M.P.s signed a resolution got up by Australian-born Labor M.P. Ronald W. G. Mackay (rhymes with black eye) calling for complete merger of Western Europe and Britain in one federation. The seventy-one signers were members of all non-Communist parties; violent political enemies stood together on this vital issue. The resolution may become a historic milestone. It reads:

"In the opinion of this House, steps should now be taken, in consultation with the other members of the British Commonwealth, to create in Western Europe a political union strong enough to save European democracy and the values of western civilization; and a trading area large enough, with the colonial territories, to enable its component parts to achieve economic recovery and stability.

"For this purpose there should be an emergency policy designed to secure immediate and effective cooperation between, the countries of Western Europe; and a long-term policy designed to bring into being a federation of Europe.

"The emergency policy should establish forthwith a Council of Western Europe consisting of representatives of the governments of the sixteen participating countries in the European Recovery Plan, and Western Germany, to lay down the broad lines of common action. The council should have power to set up permanent international staffs to coordinate the social, economic and defense policies.

"The first and most important task of the economic staff would be to frame concrete proposals for the stabilization of the currencies of Western Europe; for the development of trade; for the execution of the European Recovery Plan; for a comprehensive production plan, including agriculture and the heavy industries; and for colonial development. The necessary staffs should act under the direction, and by the authority, of the Council of Western Europe; and should be in continuous session.

"The long-term policy should be to create a democratic federation of Europe, with a constitution based on the principles of common citizenship, political freedom, and representative government; including a charter of human rights. Such a federation should have defined powers with respect to such matters as external affairs, defense, currency, customs; and the planning of production, trade, power and transport. To achieve this objective, the governments of the states of Western Europe should take steps to convene, as soon as practicable, a constituent assembly composed of representatives chosen by the parliaments of the participating states, to frame a constitution for such a federation."

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