Reaction in France to the failure of the EDC
Cartoon by Sennep on Robert Schuman and the EDC (30 August 1954)
ImageOn 30 August 1954, Sennep sketches the love story between ‘Robert Schuman and the EDC’.
'The EDC is rejected' - the headline of the French communist newspaper L'Humanité (31 August 1954)
TexteOn 31 August 1954, the French communist newspaper L'Humanité hails the decision of the French National Assembly not to ratify the Treaty instituting the European Defence Community (EDC) as a victory for the French people.
'Another blow for the EDC fanatics' from L'Humanité (31 August 1954)
TexteOn 31 August 1954, the French Communist daily newspaper L'Humanité welcomes the failure of the European Defence Community (EDC) and publishes figures which differ from those of the official results.
‘The French crisis’ from Nouvelles de l’Europe (31 August 1954)
TexteOn 31 August 1954, André Philip, President of the Socialist Movement for the United States of Europe (SMUSE), analyses the impact of France’s domestic politics and the role played by the French press in the debates on the European Defence Community (EDC).
'The moment of truth' from Le Monde (1 September 1954)
TexteUnder the pen name of Sirius, Hubert Beuve-Méry, founder of the French daily newspaper Le Monde, comments on the events that took place on 30 August 1954 in the French National Assembly.
Radio address given by Pierre Mendès France (4 September 1954)
SonOn 30 August 1954, the French National Assembly refuses to discuss the diplomatic document which would allow the President of the Republic to ratify the EDC Treaty.
Front page of the French communist daily newspaper L’Humanité on the failure of the EDC (5 September 1954)
Texte‘To the woods to celebrate the victory of Little Red Riding Hood!’ On 5 September 1954, taking inspiration from the story of Little Red Riding Hood, a cartoon by Effel in the French communist daily newspaper L’Humanité illustrates the decision by the French National Assembly not to ratify the Treaty establishing the European Defence Community (EDC). The big bad wolf, wearing a Wehrmacht helmet marked ‘EDC’, is defeated by a young, dynamic Marianne (depicted as Red Riding Hood).
‘After the rejection of the EDC, the battle for a federal Europe continues' from Bulletin européen d'informations (20 September 1954)
TexteOn 20 September 1954, the Central Committee of the Union of European Federalists (UEF) sharply criticises French policy for the failure of the European Defence Community (EDC) and calls for the creation of a federal Europe.