The Road to Promise

In 1952 six nations which had been fighting among themselves for centuries --Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg--formed the European Coal and Steel Community, surrendered to its control 188 iron ore mines, 355 steel companies operating 455 iron and steel plants, 145 coal mining companies operating 459 active pits. Last week the Common Assembly met in Rome to review five years' experience of the first practical experiment in European community, and found it good.

Steel production in the Community had jumped from 46 to 62.4 million tons, surpassing the Soviet Union's output. Coal production had increased by 11 million tons. While trade generally among the six states increased 59%, trade in coal and steel products, unimpeded by tariff walls, leaped 93%. Recently the High Authority issued the first supranational "labor passports." enabling European workers to move freely within the Community's borders to obtain jobs without labor permits from a national government.

This was the Assembly's last meeting. Next February it will be replaced by a new parliament with authority over the Common Market and Euratom projects too. Said Pope Pius XII to the delegates: "The Coal and Steel Community has placed Europe on a new road leading to infinite promise."

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