Towards the 'States-General' of Europe in The Hague
Towards the 'States-General' of Europe in The Hague
Towards the States General of Europe in The Hague
Pro-European demonstrations after the Second World War
VidéoThese archive images illustrate the action taken by pro-European activists after the Second World War and their success.
Address given by Joseph Retinger on the future of the European continent (London, 7 May 1946)
TexteOn 7 May 1946, Joseph Retinger, Polish co-founder of the Independent League for European Cooperation (ILEC), delivers an address at the Royal Institute of Foreign Affairs in London in which he calls on Europeans of good will to welcome closer relations between the Western and Eastern parts of the Old Continent.
Interview with Jean-Pierre Gouzy (Paris, 19 October 2007) — Excerpt: the pro-European tendency in France after 1945
VidéoIn this interview, journalist Jean-Pierre Gouzy, former Member of the Executive of the French Movement for the United States of Europe and of the French Union of Federalists, recalls the origins of the pro-European tendency in France after the Second World War.
Interview with Jean-Pierre Gouzy (Paris, 19 October 2007) — Excerpt: the stirrings of pro-European movements after 1945
VidéoIn this interview, journalist Jean-Pierre Gouzy, a former Member of the Executive of the French Movement for the United States of Europe and of the French Union of Federalists, identifies the reasons for the proliferation of pro-European movements after the Second World War.
Statement of policy on the establishment of the United Europe Movement (January 1947)
TexteThe United Europe Movement, established in London in January 1947 by the former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, and by his son-in-law, the Conservative MP, Duncan Sandys, issues a statement in support of the unity of the European continent.
Letter from Georges Bidault concerning Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi (Paris, 31 January 1947)
TexteOn 31 January 1947, Georges Bidault, French Foreign Minister, informs Henri Hoppenot, French Ambassador to Switzerland, of the line to be taken regarding Count Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi’s proposals and of his plans for a united Europe.
Letter from René Massigli to Georges Bidault (London, 17 February 1947)
TexteOn 17 February 1947, René Massigli, French Ambassador to London, informs Georges Bidault, French Foreign Minister, of the substance of his latest meeting with the former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, on the United Europe Movement which Churchill recently established and on his personal views on European unity.
‘Grégoire Gafenco: The countries of Eastern Europe and the plan for a European Confederation’ from Cahiers du Monde Nouveau (April 1947)
TexteIn April 1947, Grégoire Gafenco, former Romanian Foreign Minister, considers the principles behind the re-establishment of a peaceful, democratic order in Europe on a federal basis and places particular emphasis on the special role of the citizens of Eastern European countries.
Letter from Jean Rivière to Georges Bidault (The Hague, 25 April 1947)
TexteOn 25 April 1947, Jean Rivière, French Ambassador to the Netherlands, informs Georges Bidault, French Foreign Minister, of the substance of the debates at the Congress held in the Hague by the Union of European Federalists (UEF) and the main positions adopted by its leaders on the issues involved in European unity.
Poster advertising a United Europe Movement rally (14 May 1947)
TexteOn 14 May 1947, the United Europe Movement, established in 1947 by the former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, and his son-in-law, Duncan Sandys, holds a rally at the Royal Albert Hall in London devoted to the unity of the continent of Europe.
Enrolment form for the United Europe Movement
TexteThe United Europe Movement, established in London in January 1947 by the former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, and the Conservative MP, Duncan Sandys, pursues an active campaign in the United Kingdom to attract new members.
Form calling for support for the United Europe Movement (1947)
TexteThe United Europe Movement, established in London in January 1947 by the former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, and his son-in-law, Conservative MP Duncan Sandys, carries out fund-raising and a publicity campaign in the United Kingdom.
Interview with Charles Rutten: the Nouvelles Équipes Internationales (The Hague, 29 November 2006)
VidéoIn this interview, Charles Rutten, former Second Secretary of the Netherlands Catholic People's Party (KVP), recalls the main implications of the first congress of the Nouvelles Équipes Internationales (New International Teams — NEI), held from 31 May to 2 June 1947 in Chaudfontaine, near Liège.
Opinion of Henri Brugmans on European federalism (September 1947)
TexteIn September 1947, in the Brussels journal Synthèses, Henri Brugmans, Dutch President of the Union of European Federalists (UEF), outlines the origins of the federalist doctrine and its implications for European reconstruction.
Appeal made by the federalist journal La République Moderne for a united, federal Europe (December 1947)
TexteIn December 1947, the French twice-monthly journal La République Moderne, mouthpiece of the Socialist, Federalist and Communitarian Circles, makes an impassioned appeal for European unity on a supranational basis.
‘We shall either make Europe or make war' from L'Aveyron Libre (10 January 1948)
TexteOn 10 January 1948, in the French weekly publication L’Aveyron Libre, mouthpiece of the French Section of the Workers’ International (SFIO), Paul Ramadier, former French Prime Minister, launches an appeal for pacifism and for the unity of the countries of Europe.
‘To make Europe is to make Peace!’ from L’Aveyron Libre (17 January 1948)
TexteOn 17 January 1948, in the weekly publication L'Aveyron Libre, mouthpiece of the French Section of the Workers' International (SFIO), Paul Ramadier, former French Prime Minister, gives an account of the policy pursued since the end of the Second World War by the French authorities in favour of European unity.
Memorandum of Robert Boothby on a Western Union (Spring 1948)
TexteIn spring 1948, Robert Boothby, a former colleague of Winston Churchill, Scottish Conservative MP and leader, with his Labour colleague, Ronald Mackay, of a pro-European All-Party Group in the House of Commons, drafts a proposal for a Western European Union which takes into account, in particular, the fact that the United Kingdom is an imperial power and the economic and political situation in Germany.
Cartoon by Illingworth on the proliferation of European plans (13 January 1948)
ImageIn January 1948, the British cartoonist Illingworth takes an ironic look at the proliferation of conflicting plans for European unification. From left to right: the vision of the Soviet leader, Joseph Stalin, of a Communist Europe; European unification according to the former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill; and Socialist Europe as promoted by British Labour politicians Ernest Bevin, Herbert Morrison and Clement Attlee.
Statement by Winston Churchill on the Committee for a United Europe (23 January 1948)
TexteOn 23 January 1948, as debates are being held on European unity, the former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, addresses the House of Commons and outlines the role of the United Europe Committee which he established in January 1947 with his son-in-law, Duncan Sandys.
‘Uniting Europe’ from Le Peuple (29 April 1948)
TexteOn 29 April 1948, Victor Larock, Editor-in-Chief of the Belgian Socialist daily newspaper Le Peuple, outlines the main thrust of the European idea as supported by the Socialist parties and describes the work of the International Socialist Conference for the United States of Europe.
‘Congress of Peace’ from La Dernière Heure (1 May 1948)
TexteOn 1 May 1948, the Brussels daily newspaper La Dernière Heure compares the Congress of Europe in The Hague, whose participants are of varying political persuasions, with the International Socialist Conference and the Christian Socialists.
‘Alexandre Marc: Europe assumes its destiny' from Cahiers du Monde Nouveau (May 1948)
TexteIn May 1948, on the eve of the Congress of Europe in The Hague, Alexandre Marc, Head of the Institutional Department of the Union of European Federalists (UEF), emphasises the numerous issues involved in the forthcoming event and recalls the efforts made by the various federalist movements to promote the idea of a united Europe.
Denis de Rougement’s memories of the Hague Congress (Geneva, May 1968)
TexteIn May 1968, on the 30th anniversary of the Congress of Europe held in The Hague, Denis de Rougement outlines to the monthly publication Communauté Européenne his memories of the preparations for and the proceedings at this militant event which he attended in his capacity as rapporteur for the Cultural Affairs Committee.
Towards the States General of Europe in The Hague
René Courtin’s memories of his European commitment (March 1964)
TexteIn March 1964, René Courtin, former Delegate-General of the French Council for a United Europe, recalls the successive stages of his commitment to European unity.