Unity by Small Steps

Western Europe last week took a small but important step toward the glittering goal of political unity. At a conference in London, European foreign ministers learned that West Germany and Italy had abruptly dropped their insistence on a sweeping, supranational United States of Europe, were now busily lobbying for a less ambitious but more immediately achievable objective: a confederation of separate, sovereign states with a common council to coordinate national policies. Even long-reluctant Britain assured the continental nations that it. too. is now "wholeheartedly" committed to a politically united Europe.

What European leaders now envisage, with important reservations, is the Europe of Fatherlands proposed by Charles de Gaulle. France's President, who is mistrustful of all supranational institutions that threaten France's grandeur, has long argued that the best way to achieve unity is through a council of heads of government—each with power to veto any decision—rather than a popularly elected European parliament. Other nations suspected that De Gaulle was out to dominate all foreign, defense and economic policies; they insisted that no plan for unified Europe be allowed to disturb either NATO or the economic decisions now in the hands of the Common Market's own supranational executive.

June Treaty? But fortnight ago at Turin, De Gaulle won support for his proposal from Italy's Premier Amintore Fanfani. In return, De Gaulle conceded specifically that: 1) a unified Europe will seek to strengthen, not undermine, the Atlantic Alliance; 2) heads of government will have no authority over the Common Market's economic affairs; 3) other existing supranational institutions, such as Europe's Coal & Steel Community, will remain independent.

West Germany's Konrad Adenauer, though previously committed to far-reaching European union, enthusiastically endorsed the idea after a conference with Fanfani earlier this month, now argues that it is the only immediately practical approach. With France and Italy. West Germany last week urged the Common Market's three other nations to commit themselves to confederation in a special treaty when they meet in Rome in June.

Indispensable Shield. But Belgium and The Netherlands still balked at the whole idea. Tough-minded Belgian Foreign Minister Paul-Henri Spaak, one of the Common Market's founding fathers, deeply distrusts De Gaulle's obstructionist foreign policy, fears that a Europe of Fatherlands would give short shrift to smaller nations. In fact, the Benelux nations are only waging a delaying action until Britain joins the Common Market. Confident that the British will prove a powerful counterweight to France and a staunchly pro-NATO voice in its councils, they will be less fearful of confederation as a halfway house to their ultimate ideal of supranational European union. Britain's Lord Privy Seal. Edward Heath, last week resoundingly reaffirmed the primary concern of his government — and of the West : ''We must make it clear beyond all doubt that the object of our common policy is to defend and strengthen those liberties for which the Atlantic Alliance is the indispensable shield."