Europe and Strasbourg
It cannot be claimed that the Council of Europe comes out of its latest session stronger than it went in. Despite the final decision that the six countries of " Little Europe " should be kept in close touch with the Council, there is not the slightest sign that the initiative has passed to anyone outside those six countries. The various sweeping resolutions passed by the Assembly—for a European supreme court, for reciprocal tariff preference between Europe and the overseas territories associ- ated with European countries, for a European transport authority and so on—have an, unsubstantial air when they are compared with the more limited schemes of the Coal and Steel and Defence Communities. Strasbourg, unfortunately, still looks rather like a talking-shop. But the Eden plan for keep- ing the communities of Little Europe within the framework of the Council of Europe is still capable of effecting a real liaison. In any case it is still rather early for anyone in the iIii- six countries which at the moment are working so hard for European unity to assume airs of superiority: Those repre- sentatives, mostly German and Italian„who have tended to argue ', that Little Europe does not want or need to be associated with .. , the other nine members of the Council, have found themselves • without much support. And M. Reynaud, who chose to refer to Britain's " sudden affection for Europe," got a sharp answer ' from Mr. Anthony Nutting who pointed out that Britain's c affection for Europe was neither sudden nor backed with words alone. It is still Worth pointing out that the strongest and most highly developed of all the organisations concerned with Euro- pean unity is still the defence organisation of N.A.T.O. to which Britain contributes more than any other European country.
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