6. What Size Should Europe Be?
In his Project for Perpetual Peace in Europe,ix Charles-Irénée Castel de Saint-Pierre proposes the association of neighbouring Islamic states with the European Union by treaty, in order to ensure long-term settlement with them; the successive and unsuccessful truces of the past should give way to a new paradigm.
With respect to the Mahomeddans neighbouring Europe, the Tartars, the Turks, the Tunisians, Tripolitans,x the Algerians and Moroccans, I have been told that it would hardly be within the bounds of propriety to give them a voice in the Congress: might they even refuse to accept? Nevertheless, the Union, in order to maintain peace and trade with them, and avoid constant defence against them, could form a treaty with them to ensure all the same securities and accord them each representation in the city of peace. If they turn down such a treaty, the Union could then declare them as enemies, and compel them by force to provide the security required for the conventions of peace. It would also be easy to obtain several articles in favour of their Christian subjects.
Charles-Irénée Castel de Saint-Pierre, Project for Perpetual Peace in Europe (1713).
Read the free text in the original language (1713 edition, volume I): http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k86492n?rk=21459;2
Read the free text in the original language (1713 edition, volume II): http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k864930?rk=42918;4
ix https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Saint-Pierre_-_Projet_pour_rendre_la_paix_perpétuelle_en_Europe_-_Tome_1,_1713.djvu
x Read: Libyans (from Tripoli).