From the S&S archives: Spaak elected first European assembly chief

STRASBOURG, Aug. 11 — The European Consultative Assembly today swiftly surmounted its first hurdle by electing unanimously Paul-Henri Spaak, veteran Belgian Socialist leader and former premier and foreign minister, as its first president.

The way for Spaak's election was cleared by a telegram this morning from Gaston Eyskens, new Belgian premier, announcing the appointment of Paul van Zeeland as foreign minister and naming Spaak to take his place on the Belgian assembly delegation.

Edouard Herriot, 73-year-old president of the French National Assembly and acting European assembly president, read the telegram, He then announced that Spaak's name had been handed to him as sole candidate for president.

Spaak's nomination was signed jointly by Great Britain's wartime prime minister Winston Churchill, former French Premier Paul Reynaud, Andre Philip, a leading French Socialist, and Stefano Jacini, of Italy.

His election was carried through by acclamation and was loudly applauded.

The assembly then recessed for halt an hour to enable delegates to huddle over nominations fur the four vice-presidencies.

Spaak's release from foreign minister saved the assembly the possibility of an unpleasant wrangle in its second session.

(In his inaugural statement, Spaak urged the deputies to work in a self-disciplined and practical manner in the weeks ahead, the Associated Press reported.

(Reflecting the views of most deputies, Spaak declared that the assembly "is no doubt the most important organ in the Council of Europe.")

After the recess the assembly voted for the four vice-presidents: Jacini, of Italy; Lord Layton, of Great Britain; Francois de Menthon, of France; Ole Bjoern Kraft, of Denmark; Eamon de Valera, of Ireland; and William Whitely, of Great Britain.

Two tellers were drawn by lot, and the assembly burst into laughter when the first teller's name drawn was that of Winston Churchill.

The assembly elected Jacini, Layton, De Menthon and Kraft to the four vice-presidencies.

Churchill led a mounting assembly revolt today against domination by the foreign ministers of the 12 Council of Europe nations.

Twice during a stormy session of the assembly this afternoon, Churchill jumped into the fray to protest curbs on the assembly by the Committee of Foreign Ministers.

The first time Churchill, with Irish support, rebelled against acceptance of a secretary-general and assistant secretary-general named by the ministers.

Soon afterwards he jumped up again repeatedly to attack a Council of Europe regulation under which the assembly has only three days in which to ask the committee of ministers to place additional questions on its agenda.

On the first occasion, Churchill and his fellow-rebels were heavily voted down after Spaak had cut short the discussion.

The second time French, Scandinavians, Irish and some British members swung behind Churchill in sufficient numbers to force Spaak to name a committee to go into the whole question again before the next session tomorrow afternoon.