1. The Assembly,
2. Considering that the Council of Europe, representing the Parliaments of fifteen member nations, is in duty bound to fulfil in a constructive way the consultative mission which has been entrusted to it, by working out a reasoned opinion on the grave developments of the present time and by promoting greater co-ordination of the Members' policies in order to achieve an effective common European policy in the future;
3. Considering that in many fields, particularly as regards the co-ordination of foreign policies (Recommendations 132, 133 and 150), aid to less developed countries (Recommendation 158 and Resolution 145), the establishment of a common policy in the Middle East (Recommendation 132) and controlled suspension of nuclear tests (Resolution 150 and Document 823), the Assembly showed the way ahead, which has not always been followed by the Governments, but that in the lessons of the past it can find the reasons which justify the taking up of a more clearly-defined attitude;
4. Considering that the piecemeal settlement of particular disputes will not be fully effective unless it is the implementation, either partial or in a particular area, of an overall policy,
5. Recommends the Committee of Ministers:
6. For the solution of present conflicts:
7. As regards the problem of the Far East, dangerously aggravated by the recent conflict over the Quemoy and Matsu Islands, while taking note with pleasure of the progress made, to enable these efforts to succeed within the framework of the United Nations in order that a peaceful solution can be found, and to condemn once again any attempt to solve disputes by force;
8. As regards the problem of the Middle East:
9. As regards Iceland's proclamation of extension of her fisheries limits, to seize itself of the question in order to work out a common policy taking into account, in particular, the legitimate economic interests of Iceland and other communities mainly dependent for their livelihood on the revenue derived from sea fishing, while respecting the principles of international law;
10. As regards the Cyprus problem, to support the present effort in NATO; and in any case to examine the recent proposals of the United Kingdom, considered as a transitional stage, as also any proposals put forward by any of the interested parties for a subsequent final settlement; and to take note that the Assembly deprecates any violence, since it can only make a solution more difficult to achieve ;
11. For the establishment of a policy of disarmament and peace:
12. to request the Governments to take advantage of the results of the Conference of Atomic Experts at Geneva, both to bring about the controlled suspension of nuclear tests and to extend the use of this method to other aspects of disarmament (prevention of surprise attacks, etc.); and to furnish the Assembly with detailed information papers on existing projects for nuclear and conventional disarmament considered in the light of the results of the Conference of Atomic Experts at Geneva;
13. to examine, in respect of atomic and conventional weapons, any disarmament plan likely to diminish the immediate rivalry between the two power-fi/ocs, with a view, in particular, to bringing about the unification of Germany and the recovery by the countries of Central and Eastern Europe of their former independence ;
14. to consider progress made on this limited basis as only a stage towards the final aim, which must be the banning of the manufacture and the controlled destruction of present stocks of atomic weapons, accompanied by a progressive and controlled reduction in conventional forces to a level which would render aggressive war impracticable, so that the effort involved can bo directed to channels of peaceful competition through an increase in the exchange of scientific, economic and cultural kowledge between the Powers, who, one and all, have an interest in the preservation of peace, not only in order to co-operate among themselves for their joint prosperity but also so as to help, by means of the resources freed through general disarmament, those countries whose development has been retarded.
Explanatory Memorandum
On 13th October 1958 the Assembly referred back to the Political Committee the Report on the general policy of Member States of the Council of Europe in the light of the present international situation presented, on behalf of the Political Committee, by M. de Felice (Doc. 861) and also Amendments 1 to 12 which had been tabled in the Assembly.
The Political Committee met on the 15th and 16th October 1958 to . consider these amendments, together with others which were proposed in Committee.
On 16th October 1958, the Committee adopted the draft Recommendation now submitted to the Assembly by 14 votes to 1 and 7 abstentions.