M. Spaak Elected President Of Assembly

Chronicle (Levin), 12 August 1949, Page 5

M. Spaak Elected President Of Assembly

Received Thursday, 10 p.m. STRASBOURG, August 11. Belgium's M. Paul Henri Spaak was unanimously elected President of the new European Assembly. The decisions made at Strasbourg would decide the life or death of Europe, said the veteran French elder etatesman (M. Edouard Herriot) opening the Assembly as provisional president. "There is no question, in any way, of organising or preparing a military alliance," he said. "All the doors are open to the East; to all those who today refrain from taking their place among us. Tt. is simply a question of, in the words of the Uharter of the Council of Europe, safeguarding and realising the ideals which are the common heritage of the participating' members. "We are not declaring war on anvone. Whatever may be alleged our meetings have no aggressive point directed against anybody." He said the Assembly was to defeud. the freedom and law. Its decisions would decide the life or • death" of Europe. M. Herriot praised Mr. Churchill, who was in the hall: "In many moments of deep tragedy he bore npon his slioulder the whole weight of the World crying for help. From his mind sprang the movement which hrought us together here." Seventy-five girls in the colourful national costume of Alsace, with wide flowing head-dress and billowing white sleeves, welcomed the delegates at the top of the wide stairs leading to the Assembly hall in the Univereity building. One of them came forward and kissed Mr. Churchill on the cheek. Mr. Churchill, grinning broadly, turned the other eheek for a second kiss.