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6/19/1966 - Attitudes to Anglo-Saxons by Donald G. Henderson

INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS DGH A itudes Anglo Saxons Thurloe Place Iondon S W June Nr R H N01te Institute Current World Afairs Nadison Avenue New York New York Dear Mr Nolt Oh favor British entry Furo Community Several weeks auestioning oeoole EEC countries subject amost always brought first sentence resoonse Some individuals mainly Dutchmen woiced reservations their enthusiasm Britain joining Six These balanced equal numbers usually rench oreferred treat issue imoene trable future For questioning stimulated contradictory remarks wandering inconclusiveness If attitudes Common arket countries toward Britain expressed collectiwely would ambivalent These reactions unexoected But imDres derived those mildly surprising whole there seemed intrest Continent Britain moderate amount I anticipated Immediate qualifications entered because degree concern among Six regarding ritish oolicies luctuating equation Certainly there surge senti Narch favoring British initiatives toward Europe activation General Gaulle rogram Or withdrawal NATO practically coincided Britain elections The noted Fontaine article Le N effect pleading B ritish France herself dramatic instance sentiments Develoo ments succeeding months illuminating however The British Government maneuvers toward EEC aooareutly viewed member countries something perhaps Britain emerging confusion And ELDO fiasco threatens OU The question attitudes toward ritain across Channel moved where stood early These qualifications stated remains during soring limited sampling ooinion Continent regarding B ritish revealed interest concomittantl sceoticism seemed justified detached assessment oublic record There aooeared general agreement right getting business EEC membershio ritain No simole exclamation offered finding Indeed answer tsngled historical record England dealings Contineut A great Eurooeans either assum Britain cannot abandon traitol thought diolomatic habits deote changes oositiom Brought twentieth century Thi allayed their uucertainty relative ignorance reard curren British ootical Scene Oddly enough there oersiSts communications between Britain Continent which Deoole involved inquiry assure relatively greater between Ynited States Eurooe A natural gravita cress coverage sides Channel toward domestic affairs activities great cowers orovide major reason Another oossibly noted inward turning quality Western Eurooean countries individual desire concentrate oartaing benefits offered affluent societ Whatever Channel seems osychological barrier great mensions oresent geoaohy communications warrant The EYe DO affair illustration raooort One might think heavy volume tourist business trsvel directions since would about Channel anachronistic It rtainly difference imoact oooularly suooosed For thing Britons visit Continent other Eurooeans Britain A French acquaintance remarked recent f2rst dozen years Englishman comoarable means standing would orobablv visited France dozen times oeriod For another majorit7 those travelling business govern mental doubtless their journeys exoress wurpose savoring differences between homeland Other countries Within EEC countries trend toward minimizing distinctions easing transit across borders The contineutal likely reinforced existin notions Britain retaining cherishing seoarate often unique ualities Noreover there instances where latter tendency seems cloud British abili areciae essive developments within EEC Boh rance example I Englishmen horoughly amiliar Goninen insisted overemphasizing oroblems Community experienced language differences These relativel minor points comoared overall im9lications distinctive sometimes awkward position which continentals Britain maintaining EUrooe terms institutional arrangements policy several limbs To least reactions among EEC countries Britain world varied uncertain They Commonwealth slowly becoming imoortant intrinsically barrier British entry Common Narket The ennial East Suez debate which raises temoeratures Britain raises languid eyebrows across Channel ouestion Vietnam The status Britain nuclear oower controv ersial subject Although which comment freely offered several attitudes seemed emerge sDarse amount commentary Britain retention nuclear status regardless reasons tends sustain susoicions Continent again regardless their justification Britain still Drefers world rather Eurooean power exoects special oosition Eurooe dissolves emaining global commitments essentially believes reliance integration defense field In latter connection number oeoole esoeclally convinced suDramationalists British position criticize French oolicies little orovide better example None these views bulks large reactions Continent called soecial relationshio between Britain United States Outside France oeople regard Britain Trojan horse outative U S interest dominating Western Eurooe Yet majority power influence United States oervasive constitute unwitting domination Britain content situation major Eurooean nation least oreoared chang Feelings mixed score To degree British could claim their intimacy United States successfully exercised behalf caution restraint Continent inclined regard special relationship consonant Eurooe interests The efficacy claim fading raoidly however Only portions British Labour Party article faith former Prime Ninister Attlee flight Washington orevented nuclear weaoons being Korea Several government officials EEC countries chuckled their exoressed admiration called British olomacy AYF which suooosedly permitted mericans withdraw I F orooosal without intoler BUt eoole Continent believe drawbacks soecial relationship outweigh oarticioants themselves Their ooinion seems rather envisage Britain Laocoon struggling consequences financial economic weakness certainly would ungenerous label serpents USA Earlier continental officials aooeared Britain strength vitality majority British commentators Now payments oroblem overall economic malaise deeoen benefit doubt being withdrawn The growing across annel _ritain indeoendence action soheres likely severely limited subordination external oolicies defense oound And taken whenever unless European srrangements ritain forced olace relationshio United Stats above Eurooe Nothing could conducive EEC membershio Britain soread sentiment Continent This imoly however Continent Eurooe commencing likely engage merican camoaign doubtedly there differences could caoitlized about Southeast other flung foreign oolicy issues means ending division Eurooe questions arising merican economic eminence But country where carefully nurtured government oolicy control communications emotional reactions united States strong enough sustain demonstrative flurries against American olicies disnct Americans themselves There exolosive relationshio between Eurooe nited S gentler ffection irritation aooears soolicable Wha behind keyed oersistant snioing U S oolcies American manners mores substsntive 8ifferences resentment directed against obvious oower frustration knowing interdeoendence currently inescsoable there subtler fsctor The oroblem estab lishing identitv status growing Eurooe oerhaos partly subconscious resoonse stress those regional characteristics common Wth influential great oowers The Eurooeans voluntarily nited States otward ooings affluent industrialized society resent orototyoe enlsrge imoortsnce material distinctions Of course there ideal thought orocess lessen significance With General Gaulle rather success fully invoking vision Eurooe which historically never existed imoetus definition identity unlikely diminish force Efforts describe distimctiv ualities oresent Eurooe which aooear sooradically learned Oopular journals often based contrssts between Eurooean American Inmooinion these srticles usually making oints which necessar intended first qualities which described tyoically EuroDean great Nediterrsnean latin character second attributes examined relation British ritain seems house between Continent united States To facetious since educated young Britons return visit Uited tates saying nothing their exoerience Eurooean maybe exposure Nanhattan would bring Britis commit themselves wholeheartedly Eurooe In event people Continent large Britain looking genuinely unable definitive choice assume choice reired oresent This overall issue exolain Britain recent 0rominent defending NTO gained British comoarable amount credit Eurooe At future current attemtts divide Eurooean civilization American component conceivably aDoear somewhat category Greek eTforts B C identity world becoming dominated Rome The oeoples Greece oresumahly would found equivalent Greco Roman apolied their culture distasteful peoples Edrope today would regard ascption theirs phrase Euro Americsn indeed aoDealing sound though seems bothered Euro dollars exceo problem etting enough In present climate Eurooean ooinion however disposition regard issue settled future ritain Could imoortant factor resolution Nesides there latitude provided comoaratively powerful arthia Eas nowadays Americsns behave ancient Romans certainl Eurooe Noving amorohous ground hazard guess single equation toward summing oroblem which EEC countries confront judging British membershio namely their interest Britain joining primarily oolitical while British interest Communit7 Drimarily economic Too entirely oarallelism still contain heart matter I contains oaradox Six among themselves individuslly oassionately devoted economic affairs Although I always found assortment ooinions about Britain individual EEC countries Italy others Six Enough Italians spoke oermit following freely inter Dreted Daraphrase We course would British decision EEC absolute minimum conditions We enjOy oosition between France ermanyo Frankly ready trust Germans oletely really French Britain Community counterweight Also Community would benefit British democratic Darliamentary biases But should doubt comes negotiate Italy fight interests member A numerous economies comDlementary In British entr3 immediat issue The EEC plenty unfinished business B russels havre Rome General Gaulle unlikely change attitude toward British member honestly understand Britain policy With variations qualifications number points brought summary reDeated discus other EEC countries While Dutch Germans showed interest others gaining increased access British markets neither aoDear aramount concern Again again conversations which began slong economic lines quickly veered differen grounds O artly because comDlexitv financial agricultural industrial factors involved bumainly because those being interviewed regarded question British entry basically Dolitical stsnd point It seemed German interest could described osychological Because Britain reputation democratic liberal nation because Dublic least ooDular cress slowest Eurooe relinquish memories Germany world Germans regard close relations Britain touchstone international acceotance It question attitude oersist As German official effectz Ths British catted month kicked teeth What orove resoectability But almost comes under heading gossio The intention letter reoort number continentals Who think Brtish oeoole number consider infuriating larger number regard infuriating It taken grsnted there continuing resoect Britain Continent Nither there intention significance Commonwealth agricultural ssues roadblocks British EEC membershio At noted above officils Continent general believe Common wealth uestion orocess solving itself there seems tacit agreement soecial oroblem New Zealand anaed without undue strain between British Community aricul rural methods uietl being diminished ccordog Jeau Wv begiuuing U efcit oayment system A clearortof these oficials agree imoortsnt ecooic uestion cerns financial imolications esecily Britis balsnce oaents In sohere EEC comtries joined recent arrsngement bolster oound rumors reaching moves Britain offing Under these circumstances ritis Governmen emohasis agriculture Commonwealth regarded Dontnent Nr Wilson noted tender treatment farmers recent Anglo Irish trade agreement showed resdiness different context ordinate aricultural interest broad oolitical If eemingl V isolaced emohasis isolated instance there confidence Britaiu intentions oresumably officials EEC tries might minister reoutation tactical brilliance should relied BUt isolated instance The reaction aroused British Government stressing commitment Trade ssocia9ion By itself overlooking surcharge enisode Shis display sense onsibili9y trading would nrobabl anear necessary EEC members AS matters generates fears Sha Brigain hinking soecial association arrangement membershiD Communi British ministerial statements ublic about orooer national stance negotiations oarticularly baffling people across Channel Every official I Continent casual interest subect agreed negotiations would place orior formal British entry Community transition oeriod would arranged Equally these officials oositive changers Rome Treaty considered stage certainly British condition entry Yet Prime Ninister Wilson N_r George _Bown merrily duets themes Britain never crawl across EEC eshold never Because economic weakness negotiate wider communi A discounted EEC officials hyperbolic doubletalk oublic consumDtion soothe traditionally insular elements Labour Party Noreover assumes informal tentative Drobings being conducted British Dlaced oositiv ledger Still there remains irritated feeling Britain prospectie member hhaving strange Naking aopear apDlicant doing membership favor joining seeking changes rules declaring membership rolls should oened regarded promoting friendly sentiment acceptance While analogy close neither fetched Britain clubland oersoni should better understanding EEC attitudes British failure disolay greater sensitivity makes further contribution Britain certain wishes But about behavior country which already member keeps telling other members different On apparently continuing British membership France seems cause other EEC countries regard Britain attractive partner otherwise might There certainly British position another rejection Jan Cannot risked On other these countries rehensive Britain France common policy latter allowed DGH emerge This largely unspoken orobaBly reasons times crisis there relatively little interest among Five scheme bring Britain EEC French objectionsj The important reason viously extent which continuing process economic integration bound interest together desoite French dragging Imay object Franoe changing attitude toward Britain during longer really interposes Fren officials course orotest never existed Britain excluded itself through attitudes oolicies taking Normsn Conquet seriously enough The resoonse objec simoly remsrkable numbe peoDle EEC count including France Nissouri Insofar deoends tumultuous weekend fortnight before British election I encountered Paris Brussels elieved eneral Gaulle changed strategy slightest although suited tactica ourooses belief currency generally acceoted British Foreign Ninister electoral campaign drawn seeing French attitude which exist With French currently mounting oaign gentle murmurings oreceding ministerial visit Britain uestion arises whether being turned whether there forthcoming merely inita The record would encourage continued oticism DesDite misunderstandings weekend there mistaking imoortance succeeding events terms British opinion about joining EEC Th undoubtedly public sentiment favoring member highlighted heavy degree suppor Dopu press The excitement fairly quickly receded assumption normally informed person seems believe Britain bcome member European Community within years number informed people would Mind behind comfortale assumption there marked absence definition knowl about arrngements costs important understanding attitudes objectives Continent public B landness conjunction British rnment intricate maneuverings confusing statements wonder finds among EEC countries rained enthusiasm continuing doubts about Britain position OGH A weeks unusual BBC television orogram devoted Britain Common Narket former Euratom President Hirsch stated cslmly across Channel biggest problem regard British having their minds Showing considersble dismay Chatham House Director Studies Schonfield exoostulated Don oeoole Continent reslize British ttitude chsnged The uestion unanswered oerhaos better response orobably would extensive exchange further questions leaving audience totally befuddled My partial answer report conver sation exoerienced Dutch civil servant concerned EEC negotiations Brussels For convenience called Mr Van though He began suDporting surmise EEC officials national representatives occupied extremely complicated Community business tiations deriving British membership application likely remain least remainder He underlined urgency business To important resDonse could regarded General Gaulle desire create cooerativ rather integrated Europe France first among While Mr Van personally believe federated Europe attainable least generation alternative Gaullist orogrsm quietly Dressure supranationalism humanly possible noted Dutch themselves tended times Without confederated EuroDe unlikely emerge aftermath Gaulle reliance promotion nationalistic sentiments aiming recognizably there chance achieving something confederation He oservation descriD terms useful hoped EE_C progress would clude better phraseology Mr Van acknowledge steam supranational boiler hardest Droblems integration coming On other there widespread aoDreciation EEC throughout member states Although could statistically proved oeoDle dlsDuted contribution Community their growing prosperity As result there oublic loyalty drawn leadershi provided DGH II He homed Brigain would finally acce9 Community rovide lesder nearlf exhausted failure cessive British governments enlighten nblic about oli9ical insti9ugional imorgance EEC concengra9ion onomic factors alone sagnaion within Communi reason believed nreDarafions membe rship Dlicaf Unifed finFdom which certainty means second efforts encourage momentum Communitv He token British Covernmenf would consider necessary Driori urgent domestic concerns quite while In would their modes degree solidarity their capacities leaSershi In Van inion current snare about wider community excessive Dremature therefore dangerous since acted favor aullist concept Europe He personal animosif towar Ceneral aulle prepared admit sceDt assessed national practices human nature general ideas sound ragmaic Prhaos Euro would direction Dro Dhesied rench President busily worked fulfill prophesy would likely condition uarrelsome fragmented Continent internal dealings relafionshiDs great Dowers Nm Van grandeur wision policy certain meanness incompatible Gaulle oersonal qualifies actions within France iself He thought there oaced going between people would describe desiaBle likely future Western Eurooe He himself ready acceot latter descriotion foresaw enormous amount involved keeping becoming valid Specifically believed Community placed solid permaunt basis before could exoand Otherwise plethora agreements eonomic association contrasted withfull unmitigated membershio could diminish strength attractive Orce central It context Nr Van found British attitudes actions worrisome In oarticu thought impossible reconcile ministerial oronounce government declaration interest member NEt Wilson ristol speech continuing echoes DGH enough BUt EuroDean Nr Brov assertions The United Kiom wider community I Continent differ Continent The suspicion taking Nr Van Prime Minister Wilson might intend stall order Concentrate domestic tasks Europe believe British short would agree bilateral France wondered British French policies toward European unity might increasingly coincide several years In Nr Van inclined reason organization Europe analysis would closely resemble design General Gaulle rathe conceot oromoted Jean onnet All I assert about views represent fairly substantial element attitudes toward Britain Continent They cannot described majority thinking They British clarify their confusions frustrations regarding Eurooean Community They however partially explain people Continent ambivalent almost always attach qualifying their reactions toward Britain Drosoective member EEC It informed Britons correc assuming their country somehow European Community decade Yet burning question remains community Sincerely yours Donald G Henderson Received In New York July