At the conclusion of the debates on a common European policy at future East-West Conferences, held at its July and October sessions,
1 The Assembly looks forward with hope to the forthcoming Geneva conversations and welcomes them as an opportunity of moving towards a genuine detente. The security of all cannot be achieved on the basis of the present division of Europe. If it is to be achieved, it is essential that the democratic countries adopt a common policy, conciliatory but firm and vigilant. This vigilance must find expression in a constant strengthening of European solidarity. With this solidarity as foundation, the détente might well open up favourable prospects for the future. If achieved at the cost of weakening European solidarity, there is a danger that it would be short-lived and would have the effect of ultimately aggravating the situation.
2 The armaments race is the result of mistrust and political tension. Present efforts to reduce tension must be continued side by side with the work of the United Nations disarmament commission, on the basis of general, simultaneous and reciprocally controlled disarmament, confined neither to particular weapons nor to particular areas. - The Assembly is glad to see that the Anglo-French proposal of June, 1954 has led to a closer alignment of the respective points of view, as illustrated, in particular, in the exchange of correspondence between Marshal Bulganin and President Eisenhower. The Assembly stresses the decisive importance of the powers which must be granted to the control agency,
3 The Assembly insists on the necessity for the speedy achievement of German re-unification, on the basis of free elections. It emphasises the inadequacy and danger of any agreement with the U. S. S. R. concerning Europe, which does not include such re-unification. The close interdependence of these problems has established a link between German re-unification and a system of European security which requires that parallel progress be made towards a solution of each of these problems. - A settlement of these questions will be facilitated by progress towards a general disarmament agreement. - Any agreement with regard to Europe must offer the same security to West and East. In view of the vital need to reach a settlement of the German problem, the Assembly urges the Governments to give consideration to any proposal which satisfies the concern for security that is common to both. - A re-unified Germany should have equal rights with other countries ; it should not be compelled to join any military alliance and should be free to choose its own method of participating in European and international co-operation. - The Assembly considers that the establishment of a United Europe remains essential, not only because it will make possible the peaceful settlement of all internal disputes, but also because the defensive nature of its alliances and its system of armaments control will provide a guarantee of general peace.
4 The Assembly reiterates that the West cannot accept as final the suppression of the national independence and political freedom of a large number of peoples in Central and Eastern Europe.
5 The Assembly considers that before the three Western Powers conclude any agreement with the U. S. S. R. they should hold prior consultations with the other countries concerned. If a provisional agreement is reached on general principles, its final approval and detailed application will have to be determined with the consent of all the countries concerned.
