Britain and Europe

Abstract

In 1961, Prime Minister Macmillan announced that the longstanding British policy of aloofness from the European Economic Community had been reversed, and application was made for membership. The change in course was significant not only for the fact that a European power of the stature of France or West Germany was seeking to join, but also because the reversal in policy was so sharp and complete. After all, when the Community was first established with the Treaty of Rome in 1957, the British had reacted not only with aloofness but also active opposition. The nation had the opportunity to join and did not. Moreover, there was an effort to oppose the new formation through support for competing conceptions of a general free trade area, and, later, of the European Free Trade Association. In this sense, the British were turning to join a specific organisation which had been strongly opposed in the past.