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Selection 
[Last update: 6 April 2009]
Winston Churchill and the Council of Europe
During the 1940s Winston Churchill was one of the main protagonists for a new regional organisation that was to become the Council of Europe. His speech to a crowd in Place Kleber, Strasbourg on the occasion of the first session of the Consultative Assembly was a big media event.
 Highlights
- 1943: Broadcast to the nation - Audio clip [2m28s]
- 1946: Zurich speech - Audio clip [17m50s]
- 1949: Speech in Place Kleber [fr] - Video clip [32s]
Selected documents
1943, 21 March 5
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Churchill's broadcast to the nation. He calls for a Council of Europe and a Council of Asia.
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Audio extract [2m28s]
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1946, 19 September
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Zurich speech: "We must build a kind of United States of Europe... The first step is to form a Council of Europe".
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Audio extract [17m50s]
Written extract
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1948
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Addresses the Hague Congress (as honorary president of the Congress):
"Since I spoke on this subject at Zurich in 1946... events have carried our affair beyond our expectations... We aim at the eventual participation of all European peoples whose society and way of life are not in disaccord with a charter of human rights and the sincere expression of free democracy".
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Full text
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1949, August
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Attends the first session of the Assembly. Makes several interventions.
Addresses crowd in Place Kleber [fr].
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Audio extract [3m36s] and transcript
Video [32s]
Full text
Photos
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1949, 17 August
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Speech to the Assembly arguing for Germany to be admitted as a member.
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Full text
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1950, August
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Second session of the Assembly. Churchill makes several interventions.
He tables a motion (Doc.47) on the creation of a European Army. The text is adopted (Recommendation 5).
"This... was the most important decision yet taken by the Consultative Assembly. It reflected the state of disquiet which prevailed in Europe". (Spaak: "The continuing battle", p.217)
The Committee of Ministers replies (Resolution (50) 48) that defence matters do not fall within its competence.
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Debate on the European Army
Text of Recommendation 5
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1951, 14 April
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Letter from Churchill explaining that Lady Tweedsmuir will represent him on the Cultural Committee
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Letter
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1964, 30 November
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The Secretary General congratulates Churchill on his 90th birthday
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Telex
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1965, 24 January
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Condolences from Pflimlin, President of the Assembly, to the UK Government
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Telex
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1965, 24 January
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Condolences from the Secretary General to Lady Churchill
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Telex
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1965, 29 January
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Secretary General Peter Smithers is asked about a memorial service
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Biographical details
Key dates
1874, 30 November
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Birth at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, England
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1900
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Churchill is elected to the British House of Commons as a Conservative Party member
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1939
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War breaks out. Churchill is appointed first lord of the admiralty
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1940, May 10
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Chamberlain resigns and Churchill becomes Prime Minister
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1945, July
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Churchill's wartime government breaks up and the Labour party wins the general election
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1947
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He founds the United Europe Movement in Britain
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1951, October 26
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Churchill is re-elected Prime Minister
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1953
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Awarded the Nobel prize for literature
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1955, April 5
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He resigns as Prime Minister, but continues to sit in the Commons as a member of Parliament until 1964
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1965, 24 January
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Dies at Hyde Park Gate, London
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Sources in Central Archives
1
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Historical Fonds, File 297 3 "Speeches by political figures"
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2
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Historical Fonds, File 240 33 "Congress of the Hague"
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3
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Debates of the Consultative Assembly
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4
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Texts adopted of the Consultative Assembly
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5
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Card catalogue
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6
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Historical Fonds, File 024 15 "Sessions of the Consultative Assembly"
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7
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Fonds of the Private Office, File C 49
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