The British Imperial Establishment, Post Imperial Era, and the ‘Churchillian’ World View, 1945-2016. (Adjustments & Challenges in Contemporary British Diplomatic Strategy)

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British Application to
Join the European Economic Community

Harold MacMillan, like his predecessors Churchill and Eden, had the view
that “we are with
Europe, but not of it. We are linked, but not compromised. We
are interested and associated, but not
absorbed…. We belong to no single
continent, but to all.”53
Nevertheless, as was, in particular, Churchill, so was
MacMillan in favour of the creation of a European
federal system. This was, in
fact, Churchill’s ultimate objective. First was partnership and alliance
with the
United States, second, evolution of the Modern Commonwealth, and finally,
close
co-operation with Europe. Having achieved the first and second objectives,
MacMillan now wanted to tackle
the third, in practice by 1960, the issue of
joining the E.E.C. However, by 1960, MacMillan could also
see major economic
reasons for Britain joining the European Economic Community. MacMillan had
the
support of the banking circles and industry in Britain for his move, on the
grounds that the E.E.C. would
provide Britain’s industry with two things which it
badly needed: a larger home market, and the stiff
competition which would force
it to improve efficiency. More support came from the ‘quality’
papers, such as the
Telegraph and the Times, and the public in general. Despite this general
public
support for Britain’s plan to enter the E.E.C., the decision for this policy had not
been
originated in Parliament, in the press, or in public opinion, but in the
Treasury, the boardrooms of big
business and the Foreign Office. The Americans,
who had always encouraged Britain to become more involved
in the affairs of
Europe, were pleased with MacMillan’s decision to Join the E.E.C. In fact, one
of
the reasons that the Americans were hesitant to supply the Polaris weapon to
Britain was due to
the fact that they thought de Gaulle would most likely veto
Britain’s entry. This was because de
Gaulle had consistently expressed an anti-
American feeling since the Second World War (resenting
American treatment of

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