The work of the Hague Congress
The work of the Hague Congress
The work of the Hague Congress
'The Hague Congress' from Le Monde (9-10 May 1948)
TextIn its edition of 9–10 May 1948, the French daily newspaper Le Monde describes the significance of and the issues involved in the debates held during the Congress of Europe held in The Hague.
Invitation issued at the Congress of Europe in The Hague (9 May 1948)
TextDuring the Congress of Europe held in The Hague, national delegates and observers receive an invitation to take part, on 9 May 1948, in the proceedings of the meeting chaired by the Dutch federalist, Henri Brugmans.
Message to Europeans (The Hague, 10 May 1948)
TextDuring the final session of the Congress of Europe held in The Hague in May 1948, some 800 participants adopt the basic text, Message to Europeans, drawn up by the Swiss federalist, Denis de Rougemont.
‘The Hague Congress’ from the Luxemburger Wort (10 May 1948)
TextOn 10 May 1948, in an article published in the Luxemburger Wort, Sylvain Mangeot, Diplomatic Editor for Reuters News Agency, gives his first impressions of the proceedings of the Congress of Europe in The Hague.
‘Disappointment in The Hague' from L'Aurore (9–10 May 1948)
TextOn 9 May 1948, the French daily newspaper L’Aurore gives a mixed account of the first working sessions of the Congress of Europe in The Hague and deplores the weakness of the debates.
‘Federalists at the Congress of Europe’ from the Cahiers du Monde Nouveau (June 1948)
TextIn June 1948, Bernard Voyenne, Editorial Secretary of the French daily newspaper Combat and federalist activist, identifies the ideological disputes which have surrounded the Congress of Europe in The Hague and emphasises the role of federalist doctrine in the establishment of a united Europe.
Henri Brugmans
PassReport by Max Richard on the work of the Hague Congress (June 1948)
TextIn June 1948, Max Richard, Editor-in-Chief of the journal Fédération, gives an account of the debates at and of the political, economic and cultural resolutions adopted at the end of the Congress of Europe in The Hague. He particularly welcomes the role played by federalist activists.
United Europe, bulletin of the French Movement for the United States of Europe (July–August 1948)
TextIn July 1948, the French Movement for the United States of Europe publishes a bulletin which is entirely devoted to the Congress of Europe held two months earlier in The Hague and which reprints some of the analysis carried out and the resolutions adopted at the end of the Congress.
Personal accounts
Denis de Rougemont, Europe at stake: united or colonised (1948)
TextVeering between amusement and admiration, the Swiss writer, Denis de Rougemont, describes the participants in the Congress of Europe, held in The Hague in May 1948.
Joseph Retinger, Memoirs of an Eminence Grise (1972)
TextIn 1972, in his memoirs, Joseph Retinger, former Secretary-General of the International Committee of the Movements for European Unity and then General Delegate of the European Movement, considers the success of the Congress of Europe held in The Hague in May 1948.
Hans Kroll, Memoirs of an Ambassador
TextIn his memoirs published in 1967, Hans Kroll, former Foreign Affairs Adviser to the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, describes the development of the European idea in post-war Germany and makes particular reference to a German delegation being sent to the Congress of Europe held in The Hague in May 1948.
Opinion of André Voisin on the Hague Congress (June 1948)
TextIn June 1948, André Bourgeois (also known as André Voisin), Secretary-General of the French Movement Fédération, describes the positive impression made by the former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, and his fellow citizens at the Congress of Europe in The Hague.
‘Jean Maroger: The genesis of the new Europe’, from La Revue des Deux Mondes (July 1948)
TextIn July 1948, in the monthly publication La Revue des Deux Mondes, the French industrialist Jean Maroger considers the work of the Congress of Europe in The Hague and expresses his feelings about the battle to be waged for European unity.
'A handful of trade unionists facing Europe' from Esprit (November 1948)
TextIn November 1948, in the French periodical Esprit, Jean Mathé, general representative of the French trade union Forces Ouvrières Syndicales, recalls the demands made by the trade union movement at the Congress of Europe, held in The Hague in May 1948.
Hendrik Brugmans, The Hague Congress — before, during and after (1969)
TextIn 1969, the Dutch federalist Henri Brugmans, Director of the College of Europe in Bruges, analyses the reasons for the success of the Congress of Europe held in The Hague in May 1948 and outlines some of its implications for the process of European unification.
Édouard Bonnefous’ memories of the Congress of Europe in The Hague (September 1998)
TextIn September 1998, in the Revue des Deux Mondes, Édouard Bonnefous, former French Member of Parliament and Minister, refers to the 50th anniversary of the Congress of Europe in The Hague and gives his personal account of the origins and repercussions of the Congress, held in May 1948.
Interview with Charles Rutten: the Hague Congress (The Hague, 29 November 2006)
VideoIn this interview, Charles Rutten, former Second Secretary of the Netherlands Catholic People's Party (KVP), recalls the atmosphere at and the implications of the Hague Congress which, from 7 to 10 May 1948, was attended by around a thousand Europeanist activists.
Interview with Jean-Pierre Gouzy (Paris, 19 October 2007) — Excerpt: the atmosphere prevailing at the Congress of Europe in The Hague
VideoIn this interview, French federalist activist Jean-Pierre Gouzy discusses his memories of the Congress of Europe held in The Hague in May 1948 and describes, in particular, the atmosphere of the meeting and the welcome given to the delegates by the Dutch people.
Interview with Jean-Pierre Gouzy (Paris, 19 October 2007) — Excerpt: the highlights of the Hague Congress
VideoIn this interview, French federalist activist Jean-Pierre Gouzy relays his memories of the Congress of Europe held in The Hague in May 1948 and outlines the events occurring at that time that left a lasting impression on him.