When Belgium was liberated in September the country was without a head of state

The Life and Achievements of Paul Henri Spaak

Laura Cepaityte

Riversdale Community College

Paul-Henri Charles Spaak (January 25, 1899- July 31,1972) was a Belgian Socialist politician and statesman. Born near Brussels, Paul Henri Spaak was a dominant figure in Belgian politics for 30 years. He achieved world stature as a principal architect of the European Economic Community.

Born in Schaerbeek, Paul-Henri was the grand-son of the Liberal politician Paul Janson and nephew of another Liberal politician, Paul-Emile Janson, who was briefly Prime Minister of Belgium from 1937 to 1938. His mother, Marie Janson, was the country’s first female Senator. During World War I, he lied about his age to be accepted in the Army; he subsequently spent two years as a German prisoner of war. From a distinguished political family on his mother’s side, Spaak trained as a lawyer and entered politics as a Socialist party member in 1932. Elected deputy in 1932, in 1935 he entered the government led by Paul Van Zeeland as Minister of Transports. He was several times Minister of Foreign Affairs and Prime Minister of Belgium. Four years later he became foreign secretary and, in 1938, Belgium’s first Socialist Prime Minister. February 1936 - May 1938: Minister of Foreign Affairs in the second cabinet led by Paul Van Zeeland. May 1938 – February 1939: Prime Minister. September 1939 – February 1945: Minister of Foreign Affairs in the 6 government coalitions led by Hubert Pierlot.

Tension was growing in Europe. Hitler had occupied the Rhineland in 1936. Belgium, under King Leopold III hoped to avoid involvement in any coming war. It developed a policy of wary semi-neutrality, implemented by Spaak. At the same time, the countrie’s defenses were strengthened. On May 10 1940, Germany invaded. Only 18 days later Leopold recognised that the military situation forced him to surrender. But he refused to follow his government into exile in London, and was confined fo the next four years in the fortress of Laeken.

In exile, Spaak was again foreign minister in the government of Huber Pierlot. He participated in negotiations with the exile regimes of the Netherlands and Luxembourg which, in 1948, took effect as the Benelux economic union. As foreign minister in Belgium’s first post-World War II government, Spaak was a pricipal draughtsman of the United Nations Charter and was elected first president of the UN General Assembly in 1946. He became prime minister of a coalition government with the Social Christian party in 1947. Important measures included the introduction of women’s suffrage and the signing of the Brussels defense treaty with the other Benelux countries, Britain and France in 1948. This was integrated into the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) the following year.

In domestic affairs the “question royale” dominated these years. King Leopold, unfairly criticized by many of his countrymen as a collaborationist, had been taken to Germany in June 1944. When Belgium was liberated in September the country was without a head of state. Leopold’s brother, Prince Charles, was made regent. The communists vehemently oppesed King Leopold’s restoration.They were supported by the Socialists and even some Liberals. Despite this opposition, Gaston Eyghens, the Liberal prime minister who succeeded Spaak in 1949, pushed through a bill for a referendum which required a 55 percent vote in favor for the king to return. Spaak argued that the vote should be 66 percent.The referendum in fact produced a 57.8 percent “Yes” vote for the king.He returned to Belgium on July 22 1950. Protesters, among them Spaak, demonstrated in Brussels. The division in the country fell along lines of religion and nationality as well as politics. In the prevailing uproar King Leopold abdicated in August in favor of his son, Baudouin, and left the country.

After World War II there was a desire among many Europeans for some form of unity among European countries. European unity would prevent the re-occurrence of war. A strong, united Europe would act as a balance against the Soviet Union. The revival of Germany within a united Europe would remove the threat of German aggression. The U.S. supported moves towards European unity. Marshall Plan aid sought to reconstruct Europe and to promote European co-operation. Many influential European statesmen supported greater European co-operation. These included Robert Schuman, a French Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Konrad Adenauer, a German Chancellor, Alcide de Gasperi, an Italian Prime Minister, Paul-Henri Spaak, a Belgian Foreign Minister and Jean Monnet, a French economist and bureaucrat. The desire for Eropean unity was directed towards the creation of greater economic co-operation between countries. Economic prosperity followed and this in turn created a greater and more widespread demand for further co-operation.

In 1944 Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg introduced a plan to remove all customs duties between them and to create a common level of tariffs on imported goods. They developed into a single economic unit with the free movement of goods, capital and labour between them. Their economies prospered. The success of Benelux led to demands for greater co-operation on a European scale. The countries that benefited from the Marshall Plan set up the O.E.E.C. to administer the aid and to promote European co-operation. Later they supported a plan for a reduction in tariffs between member states. They also took part in the U.N. sponsored, General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (G.A.T.T.). Marshall Plan aid, together with greater Eropean co-operation and the reduction in tariffs, led to a huge increase in trade and to greater economic prosperity. In 1949 the Council of Europe was established as an assembly where representatives of European democratic parliaments met to discuss issues of common concern and to recommend courses of action. Issues such as terrorism, human rights, extradition and education were dealt with. Though the Council had no real power it was of value as a forum where European statesmen could consult on issues of common concern.

In the next 10 years Spaak was perhaps the dominant figure in European politics. He earned the nickname “Mr Europe”. Spaak was Chairman of the Organisation of European Economic Coorperation and President of the Assembly of the European Iron and Steel community. In 1955, he was appointed chairman of the committee to prepare the foundation documents for the Treaty of Rome which inaugurated the European Common Market in 1957. Again Belgian foreign minister during these years, Spaak was now appointed secretary-general of NATO. He held this post until 1961 when he reentered Belgian politics as foreign minister and deputy prime minister. It was a time of domestic tensions between the Flemish and Walloon communities, and international crisis between Belgium and her former colony, the recently independent Congo (Zaire). Thanks in part to Spaak’s diplomatic finesse, relations between the two countries were moving towards amity by the 1960s. Political controversy at home and a weakening in his commitment to European federalism contributed to his decision to retire from politics in 1966 and enter business.

Short questions

Question 1

Bibliography

1.Continuing Battle: Memoirs of a European, 1936-66 Paul Henri Spaak. Publisher: Weindenfeld & N in November 11, 1971.

2.Allies or Adversaries?: U.S.- European Relations in the Paul-Henri Spaak Lectures, Harvard University, 1985-1992.

3.Issues for world freedom: Five lectures by M.Paul Henri Spaak, Dr. Victor Purcell, Patrick O’Donovan, Graham Hutton, Honor Croome Liberal Party. Publisher: Liberal Publication Department in 1952.

Question 2

Skills

While I was studying for this topic using the following skills.

1.I looked for the books suitable to the topic in the school library,

2.I used internet search engines to get more information for my essay,

3.I learned new skills on Microsoft word and

4.I have learnt to compare many different sources for my essay.

Question 3

Review: The European Union: A Very Short Introduction by John Pinder.

One of the things that Spaak was very involved in was European unity and Pinders book was a history of this.

John Pinder explains the EU in plain, readable English. He shows how and why it has developed, how the institutions work, and what it does—from the single market to the euro, from agriculture to the environment and to relations with the rest of the world.This must be the best short book on the subject. John Pinder writes with expert knowledge of the European Union but in plain, readable English. He shows how and why the Union has developed from 1950 and covers Spaaks role in all the events. He explains the interplay between governments and federal elements in the institutions; consensus over the single market and the environment; and conflicts over agriculture, social policies, the euro, frontier controls. He shows how the Union relates to its European neighbours, the United States, and the rest of the world, and he outlines the choices that lie ahead.

I found this to be a superbly written amount about European unity ideal for those with only a basic understanding of the complexities of the European Union- and an excellent springboard to more thorough books on the subject. The author is knowledgeable and opinionated, but generally able to present his work in an unbiased manner, without overburdening the reader with technical details about the various institutions.

For such a short book, I found it to be remarkably comprehensive, including political, economic, legal and historical observations. I particularly enjoyed the presentation of the EU’s history, with its emphasis on the characters such as Spaak that have been involved in the development of the EU.

Question 4: How the essay was completed.

I was told about the essay in class. I was given a week to think about the topic. I went to school/ local library to get books. I also went to the Internet to look for information. I got lots of information from Microsoft Incarta. I read all the books that I got in the library. I planned out the essay and wrote a first draft. I added some bits from the books and checked. I typed all the facts, I used Microsoft Word. The essay was printed out and put it on the school website.