Paul-Henri Spaak
President of the Common Assembly (European Coal and Steel Community) | |
---|---|
In office 11 September 1952 – 11 May 1954 | |
Preceded by | Office established |
Succeeded by | Alcide De Gasperi |
President of the United Nations General Assembly | |
In office 31 March 1946 – 20 March 1947 | |
Preceded by | Office established |
Succeeded by | Oswaldo Aranha |
Personal details | |
Born | Paul-Henri Charles Spaak 25 January 1899 Belgian Workers' Party Belgian Socialist Party |
Alma mater | Free University of Brussels |
Paul-Henri Charles Spaak (French pronunciation: [pɔl ɑ̃ʁi ʃaʁl spak]; 25 January 1899 – 31 July 1972) was an influential Belgian Socialist politician, diplomat and statesman. Along with Robert Schuman, Alcide De Gasperi and Konrad Adenauer he was a leader in the formation of the institutions that evolved into the European Union.
A member of the influential
Spaak, a convinced supporter of multilateralism, became internationally famous for his support of international cooperation, in which he hoped to include geopolitical enemies of Belgium and NATO such as the Soviet Union and its satellite states.[1] In 1945, he was chosen to chair the first session of the General Assembly of the new United Nations. A long-running supporter of European integration, Spaak had been an early advocate of customs union and had negotiated the Benelux agreement in 1944. He served as the first President of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe between 1949 and 1950 and became the first President of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) between 1952 and 1954. In 1955, he was appointed to the so-called Spaak Committee studying the possibility of a common market within Europe and played an influential role in preparing the 1957 Treaty of Rome which established the European Economic Community (EEC). He received the Charlemagne Prize the same year. Between 1957 and 1961, he served as the second Secretary-General of NATO.
Retiring from Belgian politics in 1966, Spaak died in 1972. He remains an influential figure in European politics and his name is carried, among other things, by a charitable foundation, one of the buildings of the European Parliament, and a method of negotiation.
Personal background and life
Paul-Henri Spaak was born on 25 January 1899 in
Paul-Henri Spaak and his wife Marguerite Malevez had two daughters:
During the 1940s, during his time in New York with the United Nations, he also had an affair with the American fashion designer Pauline Fairfax Potter (1908–1976).
His son Fernand served in 1981 as Chief of Staff for Gaston Thorn, President of the European Commission, until he was murdered by his wife on 18 July 1981.
Early life and education
During
After receiving his law degree, Spaak practised law in Brussels, where he "excelled in defending Communists charged with conspiring against the security of the realm", and others including
Post-World War I Belgian politics
He became a member of the Socialist
In social policy, a number of progressive reforms were realised during Spaak's first premiership. An Act of June 1938 "increased the functions of the National Society for Cheap Houses and Dwellings and empowered it, under State guarantee, to contract a loan of 350 million francs," while a Royal Decree of July 1938 laid down the rules of applying the provisions of a Holidays with Pay Act passed in 1936 to agricultural, horticultural and forestry undertakings. An Act of 20 August 1938 amended and supplemented the 1936 Holidays with Pay Act by extending its coverage to all undertakings, whatever their number of wage earners, as well as to home workers. The Act also removed a previous requirement in which a wage earner had to work for at least a year with the same employer in order to earn an annual holiday. The old-age, invalidity, and survivors' insurance program for miners was modified by an act passed on July 8, 1938, which increased the benefits available to invalids, the elderly, and widows who already received pensions while also significantly expanding the requirements for the granting of invalidity pensions.
An Order of 25 August 1938 prohibited the use of so-called motor spirit "for greasing, cleaning (hands) etc.," while a Royal Order of 27 August 1938 fixed normal weekly hours of actual work in the ship-repairing industry in Antwerp at 42 hours "distributed over the seven days of the week."
A Royal Order of 27 December 1938 extended the scope of an eight-hour Act passed in June 1921 to cover technical staff employed in cinemas, and a Royal Order of 22 December 1938 amended the entries in the second column of the schedule (list of occupations) which was now brought into conformity with Convention No. 42, and added "in the case of pneumoconiosis, sand-blasting processes in iron and steel foundries.[6]
When he was
Again conflict rose in the Belgian government between those who wanted to stay in France (and maybe return to Belgium) — among these Spaak and Belgian Prime Minister Hubert Pierlot — and others who wanted to leave for London and to continue the war effort further. Minister Marcel-Henri Jaspar — done with the quarreling — left on June 24 for London and tried to form a new government and obtain recognition from the British. For this, he was thrown out of the government at once by Pierlot and Spaak.
After the repeal of diplomatic status by the French, Spaak finally went to Britain. Travelling in difficult circumstances with Pierlot through Spain and Portugal, partially even in the false bottom of a truck, they arrived in London in October 1940.[7]
Post-World War II domestic policies
After the war, he was Minister of Foreign Affairs under the subsequent ministers Achille Van Acker and Camille Huysmans. He was twice appointed Prime Minister as well, first from 13 to 31 March 1946, the shortest government in Belgian history, and again from March 1947 to August 1949. During his last government, two important pieces of housing legislation were enacted. The De Taeye Act of 1948[8] organised fiscal rebates, credit facilities, and premiums for social dwellings built either on private or public initiative, while the Brunfaut Act of 1949 established a central budgeting organisation for governmental social housing policy, shifted the financial burden of infrastructural works to the state, and organised the financing of the two National Housing Societies.[9] Under a law of 16th of June 1947 holiday duration was tripled for under 18 year olds, and doubled for those between the ages of 18 and 21.[10] Holiday pay was also doubled for the first week by the law of August the 10th 1947.[11]
A bill on war damage, agreed in October 1947, stipulated that owners of homes damaged by the war and took their initiative to restore them were entitled to compensation.[12] In 1948, voting rights for women were introduced.[13] An Act providing for the establishment of works councils was promulgated in September 1948,[14] while a school building fund was set up that same year "to supply the material needs of secondary education."[15] Also in 1948, the multilateral school was introduced.[16]
Various measures were also introduced to improving working conditions in mines. A decree of September 1947 introduced the compulsory establishment of mine safety services and safety and health committees in all mines, while another Decree issued that same month revised and expanded the provisions related to hygiene installations, medical examination, rescue, and first aid.[17] Order of the regent regulating the use of explosives in undertakings other than mines and underground quarries dated 31 March 1949 “ deals with the loading, priming, tamping, firing and signalling of shots and policing of the area; certain special types of shotfiring such as firing in a confined space or under water; incomplete explosions and misfires; liquid air or liquid oxygen explosives and the use of detonating fuses; supervision of the use of explosives; the reporting of accidents and incidents.”[18] Automatic indexation of 95% of wages was provided from 1948 onwards,[19] while women were provided with access to the magistracy from 1948 onwards.[20]
In December 1948, an Act was passed that replaced the National Society for War Orphans with the National Society for Orphans, Widows and Ascendants of War Victims.[21] Various measures were also introduced to improve working conditions in the mining industry. From June 1947 onward, all young workers under the age of 18 became entitled to three weeks' annual paid leave, while workers between the ages of 18 and 21 entitled to at least a fortnight. In September 1947, Orders were promulgated providing for the supervision of health and hygiene in mines, surface mines and quarries.[22] In June 1948, legislation was introduced that doubled holiday remuneration for workers, and in August 1948 a law was passed that introduced nonconfessional moral instruction in secondary education.[23] Company and sector-based joint committees were alsoestablished by a social law, with work councils in big companies needing to be consulted whenever economic issues with a social impact were tackled.[24]
Foreign policies
He was again foreign minister from April 1954 to June 1958 in the cabinet of
UN
Spaak gained international prominence in 1945, when he was elected chairman of the first session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. During the third session of the
Europe
Spaak became a staunch supporter of regional co-operation and collective security after 1944. While still in exile in London, he promoted the creation of a customs union uniting Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg (see
But, as Spaak had shrewdly foreseen, tying the coal and steel industries of France and Germany together - at that time the two industries necessary to make war - was just the first step. His next goal was to expand the concept far beyond these two industries into a much wider economic body, which could in turn form the embryo of a political union. In 1955, the
NATO
In 1956, he was chosen by the Council of
On 21 February 1961, Spaak was presented with the Medal of Freedom by US President John F. Kennedy.[32]
Retirement and death
Paul-Henri Spaak retired from politics in 1966. He was member of the Royal Belgian Academy of French Language and Literature. In 1969, he published his memoirs in two volumes titled Combats inachevés ("The Continuing Battle", literally, "unfinished fights").
Spaak died aged 73, of kidney failure on 31 July 1972,[33] in his home in Braine-l'Alleud near Brussels, and was buried in Braine-l'Alleud.
Legacy
Paul-Henri Spaak, nicknamed "Mr. Europe", was the main motive for one of the most recent and famous gold commemorative coin: the Belgian 3 pioneers of the European unification commemorative coin, minted in 2002. The obverse side shows a portrait with the names Robert Schuman, Paul-Henri Spaak and Konrad Adenauer, the three unifiers of Europe.
In the election for De Grootste Belg (The Greatest Belgian) Spaak ended on the 40th place in the Flemish version and on the 11th place in the Walloon version.
Distinctions
National Honours
- Belgium: Minister of state, by Royal Decree[34]
- Belgium: Member of the Royal Academy[34]
- Belgium: Grand Cordon in the Order of Leopold[34]
- Belgium: Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the Crown[34]
Foreign orders
- Holy See: Order of Pope Pius IX
- France: Legion of Honour
- Germany: Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (1956)
- Italy: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (5 May 1956)[35]
- United Kingdom: Honorary Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (14 May 1963)
- United Kingdom: Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (1937)[36]
- Netherlands: Order of the Netherlands Lion
- Order of Christ (10 August 1955)[37]
- Czechoslovakia: Grand Cross of the Order of the White Lion (1947)
- Sweden: Order of Vasa
- Denmark: Order of the Dannebrog
- Norway: Order of St. Olav
- Iceland: Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon (21 August 1963)[38]
- Luxembourg: Order of the Oak Crown
- Greece: Order of George I
- Kingdom of Yugoslavia: Order of the Yugoslav Crown
- Lebanon: National Order of the Cedar
- Venezuela: Order of the Liberator
- Iran: Order of the Crown
- Japan: Order of the Rising Sun
- Thailand: Order of the White Elephant
- Order of Merit
- Zaire: National Order of the Leopard
- Lithuania: Order of Vytautas the Great
- Tunisia: Order of the Republic
- Brazil: Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross
- Finland: Order of the White Rose of Finland
- Colombia: Order of San Carlos
- Cuba:Order of Carlos Manuel de Céspedes
- Ivory Coast: National Order of the Ivory Coast
Academic
- Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1950)
Other
- Charlemagne Prize (1957) by the city of Aachen for his merit in the union and security of Europe
- Medal of Freedom in silver with palm by U.S. President John F. Kennedy
- Euro gold and silver commemorative coins (2002)
See also
- Spaak method of negotiating
- Paul-Henri Spaak building
- Paul-Henri Spaak Foundation
- Robert Rothschild, diplomat, chef de cabinet
References
- S2CID 154524419. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
- ^ "Paul-Henri Spaak". Almanac of Famous People, 9th edition. Thomson Gale, 2007.
- ^ a b "Profile: Paul-Henri Spaak". The Observer. UK. 13 January 1946. p. 6.
- ^ "Catherine Spaak Is Wed". The New York Times. 5 August 1972. p. 13.
- ^ McFadden, Robert (1 August 1972). "Paul-Henri Spaak is Dead at 73; An Architect of European Unity". p. 1.
- ^ "The I.L.O. Year-Book: 1938—39" (PDF).
- ^ Stephen George, "Paul-Henri Spaak and a paradox in Belgian foreign policy." Review of International Studies 1.3 (1975): 254–271.
- ISBN 9781586037352.
- ^ Peter Flora, Growth to Limits. The Western European Welfare States Since World War II .
- ^ HONDERD JAAR SOCIAAL RECHT IN BELGIË ARBEIDSBLAD 1886/1887 - 1986/1987
- ^ HONDERD JAAR SOCIAAL RECHT IN BELGIË ARBEIDSBLAD 1886/1887 - 1986/1987
- ISBN 978-90-5867-841-6.
- ISBN 978-0-19-870684-7.
- ISBN 9028602798.
- ^ Bulletin of the International Bureau of Education. The Bureau. 1 January 1958.
- ^ Western European Education. International Arts & Sciences Press. 1 January 1972.
- ^ SAFETY IN COAL MINES VOLUME I: Organisation on the National and International Levels, International Labour Office, Geneva, 1953.
- ^ SAFETY SURVEY, VOLUME XXV, 1949
- ISBN 9789053569191.
- ISBN 9781472403483. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
- ^ Affairs, United Nations Dept of Social (1 January 1951). Report on Family, Child and Youth Welfare.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ISBN 0815795165.
- ^ Political History of Belgium From 1830 Onwards By Els Witte, Jan Craeybeckx, Alain Meynen, 2009. P.233
- ^ Fabien Conord, "Paul-Henri Spaak, héraut ou soliste du socialisme belge?." Canadian Journal of History 49.1 (2014): 1–30, in French.
- ^ "Boomzeit in Südafrika für Wetten und Bingo, aber das Online-Casino wird zurückgehalten – Afrika Focus".
- ^ "3rd sess. [1948]: A/PV.147: Paul-Henry Spaak". United Nations. p. 280.
- ^ "Discours de Paul-Henri Spaak (Washington, 28 septembre 1948)" (PDF). cvce.eu. p. 5.
- ^ Sandro Guerrieri, "From the Hague Congress to the Council of Europe: hopes, achievements and disappointments in the parliamentary way to European integration (1948–51)." Parliaments, Estates and Representation 34#2 (2014): 216–227.
- ^ "Spaak report". Aei.pitt.edu. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
- ^ Pascal Deloge, "Spaak-de Gaulle, 1958–60: charged memories," Revue d'Histoire Diplomatique (2008) 122#2 pp 135–151, in French.
- ^ President John F. Kennedy Presents the Medal of Freedom to Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Paul-Henri Spaak, Oval Office, White House, Washington, DC, 02/21/1961. Series: Robert Knudsen White House Photographs, 12/19/1960 - 3/11/1964. National Archives and Records Administration. 21 February 1961. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
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ignored (help) - ^ McFadden, Robert D. (1 August 1972). "Paul-Henri Spaak Is Dead at 73; An Architect of European Unity". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- ^ a b c d "SPAAK". ars-moriendi.be. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
- ^ "Le onorificenze della Repubblica Italiana". www.quirinale.it. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
- ^ "Honorary Knights and Dames". www.leighrayment.com. Archived from the original on 7 April 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "ENTIDADES ESTRANGEIRAS AGRACIADAS COM ORDENS PORTUGUESAS - Página Oficial das Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas". www.ordens.presidencia.pt. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
- ^ "ORÐUHAFASKRÁ". Forseti.is. Archived from the original on 26 August 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
Further reading
- Laurent, Pierre-Henri. "Paul-Henri Spaak and the Diplomatic Origins of the Common Market, 1955–1956." Political Science Quarterly 85.3 (1970): 373–396. in JSTOR
- Laurent, Pierre-Henri. "The diplomacy of the Rome Treaty, 1956–57." Journal of Contemporary History 7.3/4 (1972): 209–220. in JSTOR
- Wilsford, David, ed. Political leaders of contemporary Western Europe: a biographical dictionary (Greenwood, 1995) pp. 421–27.
- Conord, Fabien (2012). "Paul-Henri Spaak, un socialiste belge au coeur du système des partis". Revue du Nord. 397 (4): 967–987. .
Primary sources
- Spaak, Paul-Henri (1971). The Continuing Battle: Memoirs of a European, 1936–1966. trans. Henry Fox. London: Weidenfeld. ISBN 0-297-99352-6.
- Spaak, Paul-Henri. "Intergovernmental Committee on European Integration. The Brussels Report on the General Common Market" (abridged, English translation of document commonly called the Spaak Report) [June 1956]. (1956). online
- Interview with Paul-Henri Spaak on Meet the Press, (April 5, 1959)- YouTube
External links
- Media related to Paul-Henri Spaak at Wikimedia Commons
- Quotations related to Paul-Henri Spaak at Wikiquote
- Fondation Paul-Henri Spaak
- The Presidency Project – Remarks at the Presentation of the Medal of Freedom to Paul Henri Spaak, Secretary General of NATO – 21 February 1961
- NATO Declassified – Paul-Henri Spaak (biography)
- Newspaper clippings about Paul-Henri Spaak in the 20th Century Press Archives of the ZBW
- Paul-Henri Spaak at Find a Grave
- The Archives of Paul-Henri Spaak are consultable at the Historical Archives of the EU.