Great Expectations

Abstract

After the Second World War Polish exiles in Britain and other West European countries had broadly two choices if they wished to work for European unity. They could promote the cause of federalism inside their own communities, attempt to persuade sceptics of the Tightness of their cause and try to create federalist organisations across ethnic lines, drawing in converts from other Central and East European exile communities into joint organisations. By putting out leaflets, writing articles for the press and holding conferences they would hope to influence public opinion in their host countries. The Federal Clubs and research centres were good early examples of this tendency. The alternative approach was to join political associations formed by native Britons, Belgians or other West Europeans to propagandise and lobby for European union. These alternatives were not necessarily mutually exclusive since there were examples of individuals, such as Edward Raczyriski and Adam Ciolkosz, who pursued both approaches. In the case of two leading European institutions, the European Movement and the Council of Europe, the exiles not only became members or close associates, they also played an active role in their creation.