Council of Europe Changes
Mr. Glenvil Hall had some justification for asking Mr. Eden, after the Foreign Secretary had outlined his proposals for the remodelling of the Council of Europe in the House of Commons on Monday, whether they really differed from proposals which the Council itself had already been discussing. For the full answer to that it will be necessary to wait for the White Paper which Mr. Eden has promised. What he said on Monday was that his aim was to bring the Council into line with new developments which had occurred since its inception, notably the establishment of the European Defence Community and N.A.T.O. and the formulation of the Schuman and the Pleven Plans. The suggestion is that, instead of the bodies administering the Schuman and Pleven Plans being separate and autonomous, the functions they were intended to perform should be taken over by the Council of Europe. That would have the advantage of associating the British Government more closely with the two plans without actually participating in them—which would go far towards meeting everyone's desires. What is not yet entirely clear is whether the Council as a whole is to discharge this executive function or whether the Schuman and Pleven States will form a cadre within the Council. In the former event it would become an executive body. Mr. Eden seemed to agree with Mr. Edelman that it would; but he also told Mr. Gordon Walker that there was no modification in the powers of the Council—which at present is purely advisory. The issue of the White Paper which will no doubt set out the whole proposals explicitly is very much to be desired.
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