Summary
Summary Modern Britain- Foreign Relations
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A notes summary of the foreign relations in the Modern Britain course.
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Foreign Relations- Britain in the shadows of two new military superpowers USSR and US.
- In 1947 , Britain’s ambassador in Washington had to inform the Americans that
Britain faced bankruptcy and needed to withdraw from commitments in Greece,
Turkey and Palestine.
- In 1947 independence was given to India and Pakistan.
- Political and public opinion was slow.
- The Future Policy Study presented to Macmillan’s cabinet in 1960 showed that
Britain had accepted some implications of the retreat from the Empire.
- In 1962, Dean Acheson, the US Secretary of State in 1949 to 1953.
- Acheson said ‘Britain has lost an empire and has not yet found a role.’
EFTA and attempts to join EEC
- Schuman Plan 1950, set out proposals for a Coal and Steel Community to integrate
French and German heavy industry.
- Wanted to promote rapid economic reconstruction and also bind France and
Germany.
- Foundation of the EEC.
- Supported by Britain and the US.
- Britain did not initially become involved.
- Britain wanted to balance its involvement in Europe whilst maintaining the ‘special
relationship’ with the US.
- The Treaty of Rome launched the EEC, without Britain in 1957.
- In 1959, Britain took the lead in the formation of the EFTA. Only moderately
successful and not able to match EEC’s economic growth.
- In 1961, the Macmillan government submitted Britain’s application to join EEC.
- The US was happy to see Britain join the EEC for strategic reasons.
- Britain provided a vital link between Europe and the US.
- Belief in Britain’s imperial power had been shaken by Suez and by accelerating pace
of decolonisation in Africa.
- Britain wanted to keep its position with the Commonwealth and the US.
- Negotiations with the EEC were extremely difficult and complex.
- Negotiations occurred with the EEC and Edward Heath(Britain’s chief negotiator).
- The negotiations seemed to have reached a successful conclusion in January 1963.
However, Charles de Gaulle exercised Frances’s right of veto and blocked Britain’s
application at the last minute.
De Gaulle
- Leader of Free French Forces.
- Had many rows with Churchill and Roosevelt.
- The other EEC members were disappointed at de Gaulle for stopping the
negotiations with Britain.
- His intervention caused bad relations between France and Britain.
- Britain remained outside the EEC.
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