The Conservative Party and Europe: in opposition 1948–50

Abstract

In January 1948, following the breakdown of the Conference of Foreign Ministers the previous month, the Foreign Secretary, Ernest Bevin signalled that he was more favourably disposed towards ideas of European integration circulating on the Continent.¹ Bevin hoped that, by organizing a Western European system, backed by the power of the Commonwealth and the Americas, it should be possible to develop our own power and influence to equal that of the United States of America and the USSR… by giving a spiritual lead now we should be able to carry out our task in a way which will show clearly that we are not subservient to the US or the Soviet Union.²