In contrast to international cartels, which tend to impose restrictive practices on distribution and the exploitation of national markets, and to maintain high profits, the organization will ensure the fusion of markets and the expansion of production. Conditions will gradually be created which will spontaneously provide for the more rational distribution of production at the highest level of productivity. The movement of coal and steel between member countries will immediately be freed from all customs duty, and will not be affected by differential transport rates. To achieve these objectives, starting from the very different conditions in which the production of member countries is at present situated, it is proposed that certain transitional measures should be instituted, such as the application of a production and investment plan, the establishment of compensating machinery for equating prices, and the creation of a restructuring fund to facilitate the rationalization of production. The task with which this common High Authority will be charged will be that of securing in the shortest possible time the modernization of production and the improvement of its quality the supply of coal and steel on identical terms to the French and German markets, as well as to the markets of other member countries the development in common of exports to other countries the equalization and improvement of the living conditions of workers in these industries. To promote the realization of the objectives defined, the French Government is ready to open negotiations on the following bases. In this way, there will be realised simply and speedily that fusion of interest which is indispensable to the establishment of a common economic system it may be the leaven from which may grow a wider and deeper community between countries long opposed to one another by sanguinary divisions.īy pooling basic production and by instituting a new High Authority, whose decisions will bind France, Germany and other member countries, this proposal will lead to the realization of the first concrete foundation of a European federation indispensable to the preservation of peace. With increased resources Europe will be able to pursue the achievement of one of its essential tasks, namely, the development of the African continent. This production will be offered to the world as a whole without distinction or exception, with the aim of contributing to raising living standards and to promoting peaceful achievements. The setting up of this powerful productive unit, open to all countries willing to take part and bound ultimately to provide all the member countries with the basic elements of industrial production on the same terms, will lay a true foundation for their economic unification.
The solidarity in production thus established will make it plain that any war between France and Germany becomes not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible. The pooling of coal and steel production should immediately provide for the setting up of common foundations for economic development as a first step in the federation of Europe, and will change the destinies of those regions which have long been devoted to the manufacture of munitions of war, of which they have been the most constant victims. It proposes that Franco-German production of coal and steel as a whole be placed under a common High Authority, within the framework of an organization open to the participation of the other countries of Europe. With this aim in view, the French Government proposes that action be taken immediately on one limited but decisive point. Any action taken must in the first place concern these two countries.
The coming together of the nations of Europe requires the elimination of the age-old opposition of France and Germany. It will be built through concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity. A united Europe was not achieved and we had war.Įurope will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan. In taking upon herself for more than 20 years the role of champion of a united Europe, France has always had as her essential aim the service of peace. The contribution which an organized and living Europe can bring to civilization is indispensable to the maintenance of peaceful relations.
World peace cannot be safeguarded without the making of creative efforts proportionate to the dangers which threaten it.
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