Britain, Europe & the world, Britain has lost an empire and has not yet found a role. US diplomat Dean Acheson, in a report to Washington, 1950

Britain, Europe & the world, Situation in 1951 Decline of Empire. Burdened with debt after WWII Britain on verge of bankruptcy, unable to continue commitments in Greece, Turkey and Palestine. ‘Retreat from Empire’ – independence granted to India and Pakistan.

Britain, Europe & the world,

The reality of Britain’s world position was only recognised after the humiliating withdrawal from Suez. Britain, Europe & the world,

How did the Suez Crisis, 1956, undermine Britain’s illusion of grandeur as a world power? Britain, Europe & the world,

PACE OF DECOLONISATION ‘Wind of change’ speech by Macmillan in Cape Town, South Africa, Signified radical change in policy – from defeating nationalist revolts and maintaining control over Britain’s African colonies to: Macmillan spoke about commitment to decolonisation and recognition of independence movements – WHY? What events influenced Macmillan’s thinking on decolonisation? What was a consequence of his advocacy of MAJORITY rule in the country in which he gave the speech? How successful was the policy of speeding up the movement towards independence?

European Integration Why had Britain resisted the opportunity to take a central role in European integration? 1.Left wing thinkers suspicious of free-market principles behind the Common Market, e.g. Labour politician, Herbert Morrison: ‘the Durham miners won’t wear it, I’m afraid’. 2.Right wing (Conservatives) regarded preservation of traditional links with Australia, Canada and New Zealand as more important than Europe. 3.Belief that Britain had ‘won the war’, so no necessity to become involved in activities in continental Europe between the vanquished and the destroyed. 4.Illusions of Britain as a great power, no need for economic advantages of EEC. 5.Encouraged European integration from the sidelines as part of foreign policy fundamental in Cold War, strengthening West against communist East.

TIMING EEC launched by Treaty of Rome in January Agreements had been reached in Messina, Sicily in ‘The Six’ France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg. During this time, Britain was focused on Cold War, Empire, Commonwealth and ‘special relationship’ with USA. Which event happened just prior to Treaty of Rome which would alter Britain’s attitude to EEC? And WHY?

ECONOMICS Finally recognised that patterns of trade from 1930s were no longer sufficient to keep Britain up to speed with growth in Europe. US saw Britain’s involvement in EEC as key to keeping up a link between US and Europe. Belief in Britain’s imperial power shaken by Suez and increased pace of decolonisation in Africa. May 1960, creation of EFTA (European Free Trade Association) or the ‘outer seven’ – Britain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland and Portugal. Never achieved same success as EEC, Britain applied to join in 1961.

Britain’s position in the world by Britain deeply involved in the Cold War, having tried, unsuccessfully to build on the cooperation with USSR during the Second World War. This had driven them even closer to the ‘special relationship’ with the US. Troops fighting in the Korean War. Founder member of NATO in Close co-operation with US on nuclear weapons development and sharing of intelligence secrets. Not all plain sailing – resentment over US continual pushing to form closer relations with Europe and EEC; Suez Crisis, 1956; Burgess and Maclean affair, BUT overall remained close allies in Cold War.

Britain overstretched and dependent on US. Excessive spending on nuclear deterrent. 1960, Britain’s own rocket project, Blue Streak, was abandoned. Replaced by dependence on America’s Polaris submarine weapons system – November 1960, the United States and British governments reached an agreement on the use of the Holy Loch in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland as an overseas base for the US Navy. The governments believed the US military required an overseas nuclear base for refit and crew overturn for its new Polaris missile submarines, built to serve as a deterrent to Soviet military might. Led to demonstrations by CND. Britain’s position in the world by 1964