| Main Performers | Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Fisher (presiding),
Mr Winston Churchill,
Mr George Gibson,
Lady Violet Bonham-Carter,
Mr Victor Gollancz,
Mr Oliver Stanley - speakers |
| Set List | Speeches (Churchill, Bonham-Carter, Gollancz, Stanley),
Resolution (Gibson) |
| Performance Notes | "European Unity - Plea to Nations by Mr Churchill
BRITAIN AND FRANCE AS INITIATORS
A powerful echo of a now famous speech by Mr Churchill, made at Zurich last September, resounded at the Royal Albert Hall last night at a crowded meeting arranged by the United Europe Committee, with Mr Churchill the principal speaker. The Zurich speech had called for the re-creation of the European family. Last night's vast audience passed a resolution, moved by Mr George Gibson, a former chairman of the Trades Union Congress, and seconded by Lady Violet Bonham Carter, president of the Liberal Party, expressing the belief that ' in the interests of freedom and peace, the people of Europe must create unity among themselves and together make a positive European contribution to the progress of civilisation and world order; and recognising that Britain must play her full part, pledges its support in the forthcoming campaign for a united Europe.'
The Archbishop of Canterbury (Dr G F Fisher) presided, and Mr Oliver Stanley MP, Mr Victor Gollancz and the Moderator of the Free Church Federal Council (the Rev. J M Richardson) were among the speakers. The Archbishop of Westminster (Cardinal Griffin), now in Rome, and Mr Anthony Eden sent messages regretting inability to be present.
Mr Churchill, in the course of his speech said:- 'In our task of reviving the glories and happiness of Europe, her culture and her prosperity, it can certainly be said that we start at the bottom of her fortunes. Here is the fairest, most temperate, most fertile area of the globe. The influence and the power of Europe and of Christendom have for centuries shaped and dominated the course of history. The sons and daughters of Europe have gone forth and carried their message to every part of the world. Religion, law, learning, art, science, industry throughout the world all bear in so many lands, under every sky, and in every clime, the stamp of European origin. But what is Europe now? It is a rubble-heap, a charnel house, a breeding ground of pestilence and hate. Ancient nationalistic feuds and modern ideological factions distract and infuriate the unhappy, hungry populations. Evil teachers urge the paying off of old scores with mathematical precision and false guides point to unsparing retribution as the pathway to prosperity.
Is there then to be no respite? Has Europe's mission come to an end? Has she nothing to give to the world but the contagion of the Black Death? Are her peoples to go on harrying and tormenting one another by war and vengeance until all that invests human list with dignity and comfort has been obliterated? Are the States of Europe to continue for ever to squander the first-fruits of their toil upon the erection of new barriers, military fortifications, and tariff walls and passport networks against one another?
HOUR OF CHOICE
The time has come (Mr Churchill continued) when these questions must be answered. This was the hour of choice and surely the choice was plain. If the peoples of Europe resolved to work together for mutual advantage, to exchange blessings instead of curses, they still had it in their power to sweep away the horrors and miseries which surrounded them and to allow the streams of freedom, happiness and abundance to begin again their healing flow. This was the supreme opportunity and if it was cast away no one could predict that it would ever return or what the resulting catastrophe would be. They should now at once set on foot an organisation in Great Britain to promote the cause of united Europe and give that idea the prominence and vitality necessary for it to lay hold of the minds of their fellow-countrymen to such an extent that it would affect their actions and influence the course of national policy.
'We accept, without questions' he said, 'the world supremacy of the United Nations organisation. In the constitution agreed at San Francisco direct provision is made for regional organisations to be formed. United Europe will form one major regional entity. There is the United States, with all its dependencies; there is the Soviet Union; there is the British Empire and Commonwealth; and there is Europe, with which Great Britain is profoundly blended. Here are the four main pillars of the world temple of peace. Let us make sure that they will all bear the weight which will be reposed upon them.'
If European unity was to be made an effective reality before it was too late, the whole-hearted efforts of both France and Britain would be needed from the outset. They must, in fact, be founder-partners in the movement.
PROBLEM OF GERMANY
The central and almost the most serious problem which glared upon Europe today was the future of Germany. Expect within the framework and against the background of a united Europe that problem was incapable of solution. In a continent of divided national State the German people would not find means or scope to employ their energies. Economic suffocation would inevitably turn their thoughts to revolt and revenge. But on the wider stage of a united Europe German industry and German genius would be able to find constructive and peaceful outlets. The German people would be enabled to bring back prosperity in no small measure, not only to themselves, but to the whole continent. Various individual German states were not being re-created - the old states and principalities of the Germany of former days, to which the culture of the world owed so much. Without prejudice to any future question of German federation, these individual states might well be invited to take their place in the council of Europe.
The prime duty and opportunity of bringing about this essential reunion belonged to Britain and France. It was true that this task of reconciliation required on the part of France, who had suffered so cruelly, an act of faith, sublime in character, but it was by the act of faith alone that France would regain her historic position in the leadership of Europe.
Everything she had said about the imperative need of reaching a reconciliation with the German race applied in a less difficult degree to the Italian people, to whom, he was told the idea of a united Europe made an intense appeal.
The aim was to bring about the unity of all nations of all Europe, excluding no State whose territory lay in Europe and which assured to its people those fundamental human and personal rights and liberties on which our democratic civilisation had been created.
The whole movement of American opinion was favourable to the revival and re-creation of Europe, which was not unnatural, remembering how the manhood of the United States had twice in a lifetime been forced to recross the Atlantic and give their blood and treasure as the result of wars originating from ancient European feuds. Why should they suppose that the British Dominions would not be with them? The Dominions also knew that their youth had twice in living memory traversed the immense ocean spaces to fight and die in wars brought about by European discord in the prevention of which they had been powerless.
INTEREST OF RUSSIA
It was alleged that all advocacy of the ideal of united Europe was nothing but a manoeuvre in the game of power politics and a sinister plot against Soviet Russia. There was no truth in that. The creation of a healthy and contented Europe was the first and truest interest of the Soviet Union.
We had therefore hoped (Mr Churchill declared) that all sincere efforts to promote European agreement and stability would receive as they deserve, the sympathy and support of Russia. Instead, all this beneficent design has been denounced and viewed with suspicion by the propaganda of the Soviet Press and radio. We have made no retort and I do not propose to do so tonight, but neither could be accept that claim that the veto of a single Power, however respected, should bar and prevent a movement necessary to the peace, amity and well-being of so many hundreds of millions of toiling men and women.
The conception of European unity already commanded strong sympathy among the leading statesmen in almost all countries. 'Europe must federate or perish,' the present Prime Minister Mr Atlee had said before the warm and he had no reason to suppose that Mr Attlee would abandon that prescient declaration at a time when the vindication of his words was at hand. Until public opinion expressed itself more definitely Governments hesitated to take positive action but they asked that meantime the Government, together with other Governments, should approach the various pressing Continental problems from a European rather than from a restricted national angle.
Without a United Europe, there was no sure prospect of world government. If during the next five years it was found possible to build a world organisation of irresistible force and inviolable authority for the purpose of ensuring peace there were no limits to the blessings which all men might enjoy and share. Nothing would help forward the building of that world organisation so much as the creation of unity and stability in a Europe conscious of her collective personality and resolved to assume her rightful part in guiding the unfolding destinies of man.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, opening the meeting said that the audience was composed of all parties and of none. He had almost added of all creeds and of none, but 'none' was certainly wrong, for although every kind of opinion was represented, there was one belief and one credo they all held. They believe in the unity of Europe and asserted that it was the remedy for the present chaos and despair, darkest in Germany but visible everywhere. They believed that for the rescue of the people of Europe and the rest of the world unity must come to life again."
(The Times 15 May 1947) |