This noble continent, comprising on
the whole the fairest and the most cultivated regions of the earth;
enjoying a temperate and equable climate, is the home of all the
great parent races of the western world. It is the fountain of
Christian faith and Christian ethics. It is the origin of most of the
culture, arts, philosophy and science both of ancient and modem
times.
If Europe were once united in the sharing of
its common inheritance, there would be no limit to the happiness, to
the prosperity and glory which its three or four hundred million
people would enjoy. Yet it is from Europe that have sprung that
series of frightful nationalistic quarrels, originated by the
Teutonic nations, which we have seen even in this twentieth century
and in our own lifetime, wreck the peace and mar the prospects of all
mankind.
And what is the plight to which Europe has been
reduced?
Some of the smaller States have indeed made a
good recovery, but over wide areas a vast quivering mass of
tormented, hungry, care-worn and bewildered human beings gape at the
ruins of their cities and homes, and scan the dark horizons for the
approach of some new peril, tyranny or terror.
Among the victors there is a babel of jarring
voices; among the vanquished the sullen silence of despair.
That is all that Europeans, grouped in so many
ancient States and nations, that is all that the Germanic Powers have
got by tearing each other to pieces and spreading havoc far and
wide.
Indeed, but for the fact that the great
Republic across the Atlantic Ocean has at length realised that the
ruin or enslavement of Europe would involve their own fate as well,
and has stretched out hands of succour and guidance, the Dark Ages
would have returned in all their cruelty and squalor.
They may still return.
Yet all the while there is a remedy which, if
it were generally and spontaneously adopted, would as if by a miracle
transform the whole scene, and would in a few years make all Europe,
or the greater part of it, as free and as happy as Switzerland is
today.
What is this sovereign remedy?
It is to re-create the European Family, or as
much of it as we can, and provide it with a structure under which it
can dwell in peace, in safety and in freedom.
We must build a kind of United States of
Europe.
In this way only will hundreds of millions of
toilers be able to regain the simple joys and hopes which make life
worth living.
The process is simple.
All that is needed is the resolve of hundreds
of millions of men and women to do right instead of wrong, and gain
as their reward, blessing instead of cursing.
Much work has been done upon this task by the
exertions of the Pan-European Union which owes so much to Count
Coudenhove-Kalergi and which commanded the services of the famous
French patriot and statesman, Aristide Briand.
There is also that immense body of doctrine and
procedure, which was brought into being amid high hopes after the
First World War, as the League of Nations.
The League of Nations did not fail because of
its principles or conceptions. It failed because these principles
were deserted by those States who had brought it into being. It
failed because the Governments of those days feared to face the facts
and act while time remained. This disaster must not be repeated.
There is, therefore, much knowledge and material with which to build;
and also bitter dear-bought experience.
I was very glad to read in the newspapers two
days ago that my friend President Truman had expressed his interest
and sympathy with this great design.
There is no reason why a regional organisation
of Europe should in any way conflict with the world organisation of
the United Nations. On the contrary, I believe that the larger
synthesis will only survive if it is founded upon coherent natural
groupings.
There is already a natural grouping in the
Western Hemisphere. We British have our own Commonwealth of Nations.
These do not weaken, on the contrary they strengthen, the world
organisation. They are in fact its main support.
And why should there not be a European group
which could give a sense of enlarged patriotism and common
citizenship to the distracted peoples of this turbulent and mighty
continent and why should it not take its rightful place with other
great groupings in shaping the destinies of men?
In order that this should be accomplished,
there must be an act of faith in which millions of families speaking
many languages must consciously take part.
We all know that the two world wars through
which we have passed arose out of the vain passion of a newly united
Germany to play the dominating part in the world.
In this last struggle crimes and massacres have
been committed for which there is no parallel since the invasions of
the Mongols in the fourteenth century and no equal at any time in
human history.
The guilty must be punished. Germany must be
deprived of the power to rearm and make another aggressive
war.
But when all this has been done, as it will be
done, as it is being done, there must be an end to retribution. There
must be what Mr Gladstone many years ago called 'a blessed act of
oblivion'.
We must all turn our backs upon the horrors of
the past. We must look to the future. We cannot afford to drag
forward across the years that are to come the hatreds and revenges
which have sprung from the injuries of the past.
If Europe is to be saved from infinite misery,
and indeed from final doom, there must be an act of faith in the
European family and an act of oblivion against all the crimes and
follies of the past.
Can the free peoples of Europe rise to the
height of these resolves of the soul and instincts of the spirit of
man?
If they can, the wrongs and injuries which have
been inflicted will have been washed away on all sides by the
miseries which have been endured.
Is there any need for further floods of
agony?
Is it the only lesson of history that mankind
is unteachable?
Let there be justice, mercy and freedom.
The peoples have only to will it, and all will
achieve their hearts' desire.
I am now going to say something that will
astonish you.
The first step in the re-creation of the
European family must be a partnership between France and
Germany.
In this way only can France recover the moral
leadership of Europe.
There can be no revival of Europe without a
spiritually great France and a spiritually great Germany.
The structure of the United States of Europe,
if well and truly built, will be such as to make the material
strength of a single state less important. Small nations will count
as much as large ones and gain their honour by their contribution to
the common cause.
The ancient states and principalities of
Germany, freely joined together for mutual convenience in a federal
system, might each take their individual place among the United
States of Europe. I shall not try to make a detailed programme for
hundreds of millions of people who want to be happy and free,
prosperous and safe, who wish to enjoy the four freedoms of which the
great President Roosevelt spoke, and live in accordance with the
principles embodied in the Atlantic Charter. If this is their wish,
they have only to say so, and means can certainly be found, and
machinery erected, to carry that wish into full fruition.
But I must give you warning. Time may be
short.
At present there is a breathing-space. The
cannon have ceased firing. The fighting has stopped; but the dangers
have not stopped.
If we are to form the United States of Europe
or whatever name or form it may take, we must begin now.
In these present days we dwell strangely and
precariously under the shield and protection of the atomic bomb. The
atomic bomb is still only in the hands of a State and nation which we
know will never use it except in the cause of right and freedom. But
it may well be that in a few years this awful agency of destruction
will be widespread and the catastrophe following from its use by
several warring nations will not only bring to an end all that we
call civilisation, but may possibly disintegrate the globe
itself.
I must now sum up the propositions which are
before you.
Our constant aim must be to build and fortify
the strength of the United Nations Organisation.
Under and within that world concept, we must
re-create the European family in a regional structure called, it may
be, the United States of Europe.
The first step is to form a Council of
Europe.
If at first all the States of Europe are not
willing or able to join the Union, we must nevertheless proceed to
assemble and combine those who will and those who can.
The salvation of the common people of every
race and of every land from war or servitude must be established on
solid foundations and must be guarded by the readiness of all men and
women to die rather than submit to tyranny.
In all this urgent work, France and Germany
must take the lead together.
Great Britain, the British Commonwealth of
Nations, mighty America, and I trust Soviet Russia - for then indeed
all would be well - must be the friends and sponsors of the new
Europe and must champion its right to live and shine.
