Setting out the policy of the Council of Europe in the light of recent developments in the international situation
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- This Resolution was adopted by the Assembly at its twenty-fifth Sitting, on 26th September, 1953 (see Doc. 216, Report of the Committee on General Affairs).
SECTION A
The Consultative Assembly believes that the policy of the Council of Europe must be based upon the following principles :
1 The desire of all European peoples for peace requires that Western Europe should not only encourage all efforts to put an end to the present international tension, by settling the problems which at present create that tension, but should also take every possible initiative to achieve that result.
2 The task of unifying the whole of Europe, which was undertaken for reasons other than as a reply to threats of war, must be pressed forward, since a united Europe in itself constitutes an essential factor in the establishment of an enduring peace.
3 Disarmament is an essential condition of lasting peace. Any agreement to reduce armaments must be reciprocal and include provision for a general system of supervision and control, in order to ensure both the observation and simultaneous implementation of the agreement.
4 Pending a general agreement on disarmament, the free world must continue its efforts to organise collective security, having full regard to what is possible in the light of its economic capacity and social structure.
5 The solidarity of the Western world must be firmly established, with due respect for the mutual independence of a united Europe und of the United States of America.
6
The union of free Europe represents a further factor in the maintenance of peace by virtue of the additional guarantee which is afforded by the defensive character of its alliances, and by its declared intention to seek, exclusively by negotiation, the solution of the problems which are the cause of the present tension in international relations.
7 Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms remains an indispensable condition of the establishment of relations based on mutual trust and of a fruitful co-operation between the peoples, which in turn presuppose a sincere effort to achieve mutual understanding.
SECTION B
1. The Assembly considers that, at the present juncture, the first step in the implementation of the foregoing principles should be the convocation of the proposed Four-Power Conference at the earliest possible date. The chief items on the agenda of this Conference should be the Austrian and German questions, which should be considered separately, it being accepted that the subject-matter of the Conference could progressively ho extended.
2. This Conference should lead, with the participation of the Austrian Government, to the speedy conclusion and implementation of a State Treaty ensuring Austria's political and economic independence.
3. The Assembly considers that, with regard to Germany, the final aim of the Conference should be the conclusion of a Peace Treaty, which presupposes free elections through out Germany and, as a result of these elections, the formation of a Government entitled to act in the name of a united Germany.
4. While believing that the integration of a united Germany in a united Europe would constitute a guarantee for peace, ihe Assembly considers that the decision on the final position of Germany should be freely taken by its future Government.
5. The Assembly holds that the hope of a favourable outcome to the Conference should not be allowed to slow down Europe's efforts to achieve collective security and a better co-ordination of its forces, with the participation of Western Germany, nor the negotiations for the creation, of a European Political Authority, with limited functions but real powers, which would ensure the democratic control of existing or future Specialised Authorities.
6. To this intent, the Assembly urges the United Kingdom and the other Members of the Council of Europe to enter into the closest possible degree of association with such Specialised Authorities.
7. The Assembly, wishing to make clear beyond all doubt the will for peace by which it is animated, considers that Russia should be offered as a guarantee a mutual security pact within the framework of the United Nations, to which the Parties would be the U. S. S. R., the United States of America, the United Kingdom, the countries adhering to the European Political Community, or- once established- that Community itself and, it is to he hoped, other States.
