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 détente. 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 the ties of European solidarity. With this solidarity as foundation, the détente could open up favourable prospects for the future. If purchased at the cost of weakening European
solidarity there is a danger that it would be short-lived.
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 Franco-British 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 reunification,
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 that satisfies the concern for security which 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 proAride 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.
