Council of Europe

Extract

The second part of the twelfth ordinary session of the Consultative Assembly was held from September 21 to 29, 1960, under the chairmanship of Mr. Per Federspiel (Danish Moderate Liberal). Among the speakers who addressed the Assembly was Mr. J. O. Krag, chairman of the Committee of Ministers and Danish foreign minister. Referring to modern technology, he alleged that the greatest challenge of the times was that of disarmament, and that any new body set up to negotiate on disarmament ought to be accepted, provided its composition guaranteed a realistic approach. Then, concentrating on the problems of European integration, he welcomed the signing of the treaty establishing the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the projected membership of Canada and the United States therein. Its tasks, he pursued, were three-fold: to provide effective consultation for improving the coordination of economic policies; to promote the expansion of world trade; and to assist in the economic development of underdeveloped countries by increasing the magnitude and improving the nature of financial assistance. Another speaker was Mr. Edward Heath, minister of the United Kingdom for European affairs, who, in presenting the United Kingdom's attitude toward European integration, stated that the two main problems were the Commonwealth relationship and the demands of domestic agricultural policy. He expressed the view that it was preferable to concentrate on solving immediate practical difficulties before initiating formal negotiations, and that a solution acceptable to the Commonwealth was undoubtedly possible with further exploration.