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In 1954, the Union of European Federalists (UEF) was the largest and most influential non-governmental organization of federalist groups in Europe. Although it did not see defense as the best way to advance European political unity, it was intensely involved in promoting the EDC, which it saw as the promise of a federal Europe. The non-ratification by the French parliament was a shock. How would the UEF react? Thanks to unpublished archives, we are offered an insight into the debates that shook the Central Committee and divided the UEF for a long time, which saw its federalist hopes fade away for a number of years.