B Explanatory Memorandum (presented by
M. van der Goes van Naters, Rapporteur)
1. Developments in Franco-German
relations this year regarding the Saar problem have been marked
by three decisive dates :
- March
9th, when a joint communiqué was issued to the effect that the proposals
of the Committee on General Affairs defining the European Statute
of the Saar had been adopted as a basis of discussion by the Federal
German Chancellor, Dr. Adenauer, and the French Foreign Minister,
M. Bidault ;
- May 20th, when Chancellor Adenauer and the French Deputy
Prime Minister, M. Teit-gen, laid down the broad lines of an agreement
to be concluded ;
- October 23rd, when Chancellor Adenauer and the French
Prime Minister, M. Men-dès-France, signed the agreement on the Saar
Statute.
2. In a communication t o the Assembly on 16th September, 1954,
the Committee on General Affairs announced its intention of presenting
at the third part of the Session a report "on all the steps taken
to give effect to Recommendation 57", which was concerned with both
the bilateral and the multilateral negotiations.
3. With regard to multilateral negotiations, the only provisions
of the Paris Agreement which require the consent of the signatory
Powers of Western European Union are contained in Articles II, III,
IV, VIII, XIII and XIV, and are concerned with future developments.
4. We can however, form an opinion of the agreement as it stands
at present.
5. In the first place, it should be regarded in the whole context
of the London and Paris Agreements, which were designed to give
to Western Germany its place as an active ally in the West. This
demonstration of European solidarity in the field of security and
other matters forms the basis of the new Western European Union,
which will have its part to play in connection with the new Statute
of the Saar.
6. A comparison between this Statute and the proposals of the
Committee on General Affairs reveals numerous similarities, and
also divergences, due to the recent trend of political events in
Europe. These political developments are, naturally, reflected in
the present Statute, and will no doubt affect the situation at the
time when a peace treaty is concluded.
7. The Agreement on the Saar considered in relation to the Western
European Union Treaty presents two striking features : the possibility
of development in the light of progress made towards the unification
and integration of Europe, and the postponement of the final decision
until the signature of a peace treaty, an arrangement which all
parties concerned undertake to respect. These two characteristics
of the Agreement are the product of a realistic approach.
8. The work of the Consultative Assembly, in connection with
the Saar problem is now all but completed. The good offices afforded
by the Committee on General Affairs and the magnificent preparatory
work of the Secretariat-General have not been in vain. They have
served the cause of solidarity between the free peoples, and have
contributed to a satisfactory solution of a problem affecting the
destiny of a million people.
9. It only remains for the Assembly to exercise parliamentary
control over the observance of the Agreement, a surveillance lacking
in direct sanctions, as we know, but, nevertheless, recognised by
European opinion.
10. Article ,11 of the Statute of the Saar provides that similar
powers of control – modest in scope though effective in their consequences
– will be vested in the Assembly of "Western European Union. In
this respect the new Assembly will be the successor of the Consultative
Assembly, and the heritage it will thus receive is one of which
it may be proud.
