What Churchill said.
In Zurich 19 September 1946 Winston Churchill gave a speech that has recently been misquoted, misinterpreted and misapplied by President Sarkozy. It is important that people know what Churchill actually said and it is given here:"There is no reason why a regional organisation of Europe should in any way conflict with the world organisation of the United Nations. On the contrary, I believe that the larger synthesis will only survive if it is founded upon coherent natural groupings.
There is already a natural grouping in the Western Hemisphere. We, British, have our own Commonwealth of Nations. These do not weaken, on the contrary they strengthen, the world organisation. They are, in fact, its main support. Any why should there not be a European group which could give a sense of enlarged patriotism and common citizenship to the distracted peoples of this turbulent and might continent and why should it not take its rightful place with other great groupings in shaping the destinies of men? In order that this should be accomplished, there must be an act of faith in which millions of families speaking many languages must consciously take part.
We all know that the two world wars though which we have passed arose out of the vain passion of a newly united Germany to play the dominating part in the world.
In this last struggle crimes and massacres have been committed for which there is no parallel since the invasions of the Mongols in the fourteenth century and no equal at any time in human history. The guilty must be punished. Germany must be deprived of the power to rearm and make another aggressive war.
But when all this has been done, as it will be done, as it is being done, there must be an end to retribution. There must be what Mr Gladstone many years ago called 'a blessed act of oblivion'.
We must turn our backs upon the horrors of the past. We must look to the future. We cannot afford to drag forward across the years that are to come the hatreds and revenges which have sprung from the injuries of the past.
If Europe is to be saved from infinite misery, and indeed from final doom, there must be an act of faith in the European family and an act of oblivion against all the crimes and follies of the past.
Can the free peoples of Europe rise to the height of these resolves of the soul and instincts of the spirit of man?
If they can, the wrongs and injuries which have been inflicted will have been washed away on all sides by the miseries which have been endured.
Is there any need for further floods of agony? Is it the only lesson of history that mankind is unteachable?
Let there be justice, mercy and freedom.
The peoples have only to will it, and all will achieve their hearts; desire.
I am now going to say something that will astonish you.
The first step in the re-creation of the European family must be a partnership between France and Germany.
In this way only can France recover the moral leadership of Europe.
There can be no revival of Europe without a spiritually great France and a spiritually great Germany.
The structure of the United States of Europe, if well and truly built, will be such as to make the material strength of a single state less important. Small nations will count as much as large ones and gain their honour by their contribution to the common cause.
I must now sum up the propositions which are before you.
Our constant aim must be to build and fortify the strength of the United Nations Organisation.
Under and within that world concept, we must re-create the European family in a regional structure called, it may be, the United States of Europe.
The first step is to form a Council of Europe.
If at first all the States of Europe are not willing or able to join the Union, we must nevertheless proceed to assemble and combine those who will and those who can.
The salvation of the common people of every race and of every land from war or servitude must be established on solid foundations and must be guarded by the readiness of all men and women to die rather than submit to tyranny.
In all this urgent work, France and Germany must take the lead together.
"Great Britain, the British Commonwealth of Nations, mighty America, and I trust Soviet Russia - for then indeed all would be well - must be the friends and sponsors of the new Europe and must champion its right to live and shine"