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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united in
its purpose of transforming Britain into a welfare democracy. As a result
of his emotional feeling for
Britain, he combined an intellectual socialist anti-
colonialism with a benevolent imperial, concern of
raising the conditions,
economically and politically, in the ex-colonies by bringing the old empire to
a
free multi-racial Commonwealth. Additionally, Attlee, la conjunction with the
Americans, built the
whole post-war system of Western defence.

Bevin. Ernest Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, 1945-51. Ernest
Bevin’s roots
were solidly working class, therefore, he was most concerned about
the welfare of the working man. Bevin was
brought to the front line of the trade
union movement as a result of his drive, resourcefulness and ability
to take a
broad view of the interests of the Labour movement. Being a Labour leader
helped him to
develop these qualities. He was able to take bold decisions and
stand by them and preferred organisation to
empty rhetoric. Above all his
background taught him the over-riding importance of power. It was the
profound
conviction of the need to negotiate from strength which was later to characterise
his whole
conduct of British foreign policy. Attlee appointed Bevin as the Foreign
Secretary above all because of his
expectation, based on his experience at
Potsdam, that the Russians would be aggressive and unco-operative and
that
Bevin would be the best man to stand up to them. Ernest Bevin and Clement
Attlee were probably
closer than any other two members of the Cabinet. Bevin
and Attlee’s personal friendship had grown into a
well developed political
partnership, by the time they took office. Attlee was, unassuming
practical,
detached and quiet. He had a tendency to remain in the background but Bevin on
the other hand
was full of ideas. Bevin enjoyed the exercise of power and the
responsibility that went with the office.
Bevin also commanded the respect and
trust of his Cabinet colleagues such as Morrison, Stafford Cripps, Hugh
Dalton
and of course Attlee. Bevin was not only in charge of the Foreign Office, but was

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