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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the
Americans, both in mode of thought and origins are substantially foreign, it
could be said that their rulers
are often Anglo-Saxon and share the political ideas
of Britain and, therefore, persuading them successfully
to accept British points of
view would mean the dominance of British views in all international
matters.
Although Churchill first used the term “special relationship”, this had become
an
objective of British foreign policy since before the First World War. For example,
Lord Cecil, in
1917, expressed to his Cabinet colleagues the view that, now that
the USA was taking an interest in European
and international affairs, she would
realise how powerful she was, and therefore Britain would benefit by
achieving
a close relationship with the USA. Cecil’s view of an alliance with the Americans,
even
though he did not use any phrase as Churchill did, was of course based on
the nation of a “common
language and heritage”.

However,
as Britain created the institution of the Commonwealth as a way
of holding to the imperial ties while the US
encouraged the decolonisation
process, it would be natural for an observer to believe that the British
political
elite viewed America as a new super-power which has not yet reached maturity,
having only one
thing in common with Britain, defence against communism.
Bevin, the Foreign Secretary, as his memorandum
which was discussed in
Chapter Five showed clearly, was actively in favour of American involvement
in
the defence against communist aggression. Although having to accept America
in the leading role,
Britain from the beginning had succeeded in tailoring NATO,
which also covered the regional Pacts, to
accommodate British interests and
protect the British sphere of influence, as well as American
requirements.
(SEATO and CENTO are the regional pacts that were all with the American
partnership. These
are the areas where Britain bas major interests too).

By 1963
when Macmillan left office, Britain bod managed, as a matter of
helping to defend the Free. World against
communist influence, to negotiate a
successful defence with the USA. With the view to her interest., Britain
shared

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