Explanatory memorandum
On the 11th August last the Assembly decided to create a European Army, and, following this decision, the Assembly in its Recommendation expressed a desire to set up a Ministry of European Defence whose task would be to unify European forces by democratic methods, for the defence of peace against Eastern imperialism, and to seek methods of collaboration with the U. S. A. and Canada.
In view of these Recommendations and decisions by the Assembly, it is now a matter of urgency to consider the creation of a Ministry of Defence. I am, therefore of opinion that we should discuss this question, so that we may be able to lay the foundations of this Ministry of Defence during the second part of the Session, before the end of the present month.
The desire to see the Recommendation of the Assembly put into concrete form has led me to propose this Motion, because I believe that it fulfils the primary condition for the maintenance of peace, for the protection of civilisation, and for the free development of democratic ideals, namely, the organisation of the defence of free peoples against Eastern imperialism.
I believe that if we succeed in unifying and organising our forces we shall be in a position to establish the state of peace which is necessary to enable the free peoples, whose liberty will have been secured, to devote themselves without hindrance to economic re-organisation and to the reconstruction of their countries, so cruelly stricken by Nazi and.Fascist aggression.
If the organisation of defence is not achieved, these tasks will be more difficult for all those who believe in the unification of the Free Peoples of Europe.
If we proceed in this way, we shall be able to achieve something in which we believe, and we shall advance gradually but resolutely towards the realisation of a United States of Europe.
Consequently I believe that we should examine the possibilities of the creation of this Ministry, and I have the honour to submit the following Motion :
Motion
That a Committee to be called the Defence Committee shall be set up within the Ministry of European Defence.
The task of this Committee shall be to ensure political and economic liaison between the Ministry of European Defence and the national Governments.
Furthermore, it shall fix the quota of armed forces contributed by each country to form the basis of a European Army, as well as the financial contribution of each country. The Representatives of each country shall be assisted by technical military Representatives who will form the general staff of the Ministry and will be responsible for its technical organisation.
The Chairman of the Technical Committee, whose functions will be those of generalissimo or chief of staff will be instructed to establish immediate contact with the Chief of Staff of the Atlantic Pact in order that technical collaboration between these two defence pacts shall ensured.
The technical Committee shall also be entrusted with the re-organisation of the standardised production of war material necessary for the equipment of the European forces.
The Committee of Technicians of the Ministry of European Defence will assist in carrying out the Recommendation adopted by the Assembly on 11th August 1950, which recommended cooperation with the U. S. A. and with Canada.