In 1952 six nations which had been fighting among themselves for centuries Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourgformed the European Coal and Steel Community, surrendered to its control 188 iron ore mines, 355 steel companies operating 455 iron and steel plants, 145 coal mining companies operating 459 active pits. Last week the Common Assembly met in Rome to review five years' experience of the first practical experiment in European community, and found it good.
Steel production in the Community had jumped from 46 to 62.4 million tons, surpassing the Soviet Union's output. Coal production had increased by 11...