Grand Design

At a July 4th dinner given in London by the English-Speaking Union, NATO Commander Dwight Eisenhower delivered the kind of speech the world has not heard since Winston Churchill was eloquently advocating the "Grand Design"--United Europe. Said Statesman Eisenhower:

"Europe's . . . progress ... is hobbled by a web of customs barriers interlaced with bilateral agreements, multilateral cartels, local shortages and economic monstrosities. How tragic! Free men, facing the specter of political bondage, are crippled by artificial bonds that they themselves have forged and they alone can loosen . . .

"The difficulties of integrating Western Europe . . . appear staggering to those who live by ritual. But great majorities in Europe . . . deserve, at the very least, a fair chance to work together . . . Europe cannot attain the towering material stature possible to its peoples' skills and spirit so long as it is divided by patchwork territorial fences. They foster localized, instead of common, interest.

"Unity . . . would mean early independence of aid from America and other Atlantic countries. The coffers, mines and factories of that continent are not inexhaustible . . . The establishment of a workable European federation would go far to create confidence that Europe was doing its full and vital share . . .

"The winning of freedom is not to be compared to the winning of a game--with victory recorded forever . . . Freedom . . . must be daily earned and refreshed--else ... it will wither and die."

Prime Minister Clement Attlee seemed taken aback by Ike's eloquence, said lamely: ". . . Speech of wide sweep ... I am sure we will all want to study [it] very carefully . . ." Winston Churchill was nearly as fiery as Ike. But first, he said, the English-speaking nations must unite; the rest would follow. "And here we have Ike," cried Churchill enthusiastically banging the table, "here to stand up for the unity of Europe."

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