Britain's position in the world - relationship with Europe

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Post ww2, Britain:

  • Played a central role in setting up the Organisation of European Economic Co-operation to set up in 1948 to administer Marshall Aid.
  • Was one of the original signatories of the Northern Atlantic Treaty in April 1949.
  • Was a founder member of the Council of Europe
  • Committed itself to the defence of Europe.

The conservative governments of the 1950s did not join the EEC because they:

  • hoped to make the colonial Empire and the Commonwealth into a trading bloc that would be stronger than the EEC.
  • disliked the commitment to closer union contained in the treaty of rome.
  • did not believe France and Germany could overcome centuries of hostility quickly enough to make the EEC a success.

Domestic divisions over Britain's role in Europe

Britain's relations with the EEC became a difficult issue in British domestic politics in the early 1960s. Harold Macmillan realised that Britain's colonial empire had no future and tried to establish a new relationship with Europe.

  • initially he took the initiative in establishing the European Free Trade association in 1960 as a rival to the EEC that would not infringe national sovreeignty.
  • by 1961, the…

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