England Wants In

Some Englishmen loudly champion the Common Market as Europe’s greatest step forward since Charlemagne: others, no less vociferous, see it as the gravest danger to Britain since the Spanish Armada: most find the subject complicated and dull, and have no firm opinion at all. The majority are wise. The subject is highly complicated and technical, and, whatever the demagogues may say, quite insuitable to be an election issue. But it is important, very important indeed. The Labor Party, uncertain where the electoral advantage lies, still cowardly sits on the fence. The Government, pushed by circumstances rather than zeal, has begun trying to negotiate terms for Britain’s entry into the Common Market.

The European nations welcome these overtures, but without wild enthusiasm. Albion, they think, has been fairly perfidious already. After the war it was British politicians, with Churchill as their chief spokesman, who launched the idea of a united Europe; but as soon as they faced the practical implications they started backing away. Six European countries—France, Italy, West Germany, Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg—went ahead, signed the Treaty of Rome in 1957, and began pulling down their economic frontiers; and not their economic frontiers only. They are aiming at a large measure of political unity as well. Their social services will eventually be harmonized, capital and labor will be able to move freely between them.

AL

About the Author

Anthony Lejeune

Featured Tags

Some Englishmen loudly champion the Common Market as Europe’s greatest step forward since Charlemagne: others, no less vociferous, see it as the gravest danger to Britain since the Spanish Armada: most find the subject complicated and dull, and have no firm opinion at all. The majority are wise. The subject is highly complicated and technical, and, whatever the demagogues may say, quite insuitable to be an election issue. But it is important, very important indeed. The Labor Party, uncertain where the electoral advantage lies, still cowardly sits on the fence. The Government, pushed by circumstances rather than zeal, has begun trying to negotiate terms for Britain’s entry into the Common Market.

The European nations welcome these overtures, but without wild enthusiasm. Albion, they think, has been fairly perfidious already. After the war it was British politicians, with Churchill as their chief spokesman, who launched the idea of a united Europe; but as soon as they faced the practical implications they started backing away. Six European countries—France, Italy, West Germany, Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg—went ahead, signed the Treaty of Rome in 1957, and began pulling down their economic frontiers; and not their economic frontiers only. They are aiming at a large measure of political unity as well. Their social services will eventually be harmonized, capital and labor will be able to move freely between them.