The European Movement

[Anathema]

Let all therefore take note that we Europeans, assembled to express the will of all the peoples of Europe, solemnly declare our common aims in the following articles, wich summarise the Resolutions adopted by the Congress:

We desire a united Europe, througout whose area the free movement of persons, ideas and goods is restored;

We desire a Charter of Human Rights guaranteeing liberty of thought, assembly and expression as well as the right to form a political oppositions,

We desire a Court of justice with adequate sanctions for the implementations of this Charter;

We desire a European Assembly where the live forces of all our nations shall be represented.

- The European Movement and the Council of Europe

For those that don't know, the European Council was erected shortly after WWII to form a firm political European union. It didn't achieve that purpose (though it achieved some succes forming its Charter of Human Rights). What I find interesting though is that the most important man behind this new "European movement" was Winston Churchill, who was honorary chairman of the congress. Since I know that most Eurosceptics on and off this site are also staunch admirerers of Churchill, I thougt this little bit of info might be worth posting.

Thoughts?

[Caid Ivik]

Endlich, Heilige Romische Reich kommt zuruck! Lang lebe der Imperium!

[Egeides]

Was Churchill including UK in his plans for an Union?

If not, what were his potential advantages, strategically? Maybe you don't get some Continental nuts to get stronger than others and take over the continent as one frenzy and (too) powerful thing (Nazis). Can it in such a case form some sort of Europe-wide status quo, or some auto-balancing limiting unprevisible bouncing?

[Anathema]

Yes it was a strategic move. It was a reaction to the communist coup in Chzechoslovakia in febrari 1948, further tightening Soviet influence in eastern Europe. Churchill wanted to make western Europe a single, united bloc against the Soviet threat.

[Caid Ivik]

I can't say, that if Patton wouldn't stop in Pilsen and liberate Prague four months before the Russians, there would be no coup, but truly, allies could do more for it than bombing our refineries and factories during the war. However, they sold us already to Hitler ten years ago, so what could we expect then...