The British Policy Towards The European Integration Under Macmillan's Government

The balance of power is the traditional policy of Britain which was redefined by Three-circle diplomacy of Churchill in detail in order to maintained the splendid achievements of being an empire .After the WWâ…¡and with rise of America and Soviet Union it was difficult for Britain to performed the traditional policy of the balance of power on the changing stage of the international politics which was seen obviously in Europe. Britain treated The European Integration at a respectful distance which was not beneficial for Britain because of the attitude of splendid isolation. Therefore, Britain revised the policy of The European Integration accordingly and applied for the participation of The European Integration in Macmillan's term. But the application was refused out of the influence from the inner and outer. The main purpose of this paper is to analyze Britain changing policy about the European Integration based on the international background.The first chapter introduces the international background of the policy about The European Integration especially including the different benefit considerations from America, France and Germany which is the first step to understand the Britain policy of The European Integration. During the progress of The European Integration which was influenced by these countries'attitude and action directly, America, France and Germany played the very important roles and connected closely with the its failure. Though USA belongs to the Americas, it has the important benefits of economy and politics in Europe. For America, it would be the effective method that restrained Soviet Union and attracted a satellite state to accelerate the union of the Eastern Europe. This policy matched the strategy of America in the Cold War. Meanwhile, this union also restrained Germany's strategy .Whereas, if Europe would became prosperous, it was difficult for America to control. In this case, Britain's participation in The European Integration would be a good step to challenged France's leader status and kept the balance of Europe in America perspective.France claimed that Europe belonged to Europeans and disagreed with the Atlantic Community controlled by the United State. Maintaining the leader status of itself as well as the union of France and Germany was the main policy in order to spread the power nation image to the world. So it was reasonable for it to refuse"the spokesman of America"---Britain. After the WWâ…¡, participation in The European Integration was an ideal choice to improve its equal and leadership status for Germany which was destroyed badly and needed a new face. While Britain posed as a leader and wanted to continue in The European Integration, it was on doubt for Germany to say no.The second chapter mainly introduces the Britain policy of The European Integration in the former part of Macmillan's Term. That was refusal and boycott that were the continuance of Britain policy after the WW II. And also analyzed the causes as well as the strategies .The Macmillan's Administration had lasted for seven years from 1957 to 1963 which was divided into two parts by his attitude towards the European Integration. In the former part from 1957 to 1960, the Britain government firstly refused to participate in the European Integration and then organized the European Free Trade Association to combat. But it has been proved a failure.In the WWâ…¡,although Britain had suffered from Germany explosion, Germany had not invaded territory. Therefore, compared with other nations in Europe, Britain attitude about the European Integration was more indifferent than others. English Channel is a natural barrier against countless wars in European battle and it also influenced Britain policy about the European Integration. Besides, Britain took the power and status of being a big nation which were important and unchangeable into consideration carefully. Britain government considered the European Integration as an organization that might destroyed its sovereign right. Meanwhile, the traditional policy of the balance of power still played a very important role. In addition, Britain policy connected closely with the relation with The Commonwealth which was the center area of Three-circle policy in order to compensate and maintain its international status and influence. That was why Britain policy about the European Integration was not stable.Britain had taken amount of political measures to show its indifference and interrupt the progress of the European Community in order to achieve its plan. Even organized the European Free Trade Association canceled out the European Community. However, these strategies did not work effectively.The third chapter mainly introduces the period from Britain application for the European Community to the failure and analyzes the failing causes. After its failure, Britain revised the policy towards Europe and applied for participation in the European Economic Community in 1961. However, France president Charles de Gaulle's refusal made Macmillan policy about the Europe failed in 1963.After the WWâ…¡, it was inevitable for Europe to be on the union way. Initially, Britain wanted to interrupt Eastern Europe affairs just like America. Gradually, Britain realized the impossibility and did its utmost to be a qualified nation in Europe in order to get its ticket to the European Community.This was a important turning point of Britain policy towards the European Integration which was caused by the following aspects. Firstly, compared with the achievements made by the European Community, Britain economy was in a bad condition. Secondly, the sovereign right consideration was a factor that led to Britain boycott. Britain worried too much about this question because Charles de Gaulle was a statesman who had a strong sense of being independent would not made Britain worry became real. Thirdly, America attitude and position influenced Britain a lot because of their special relation lasted for a time.After the careful thought and the painful remark, Macmillan applied for the participation in the European Community formally on Aug 1961. They negotiated the matter on Oct 1961. Britain was full of confidence and finally failed. The failing causes led to Britain application are the following. Firstly, France refused it because of the special relation between Britain and America which meant the Atlantic Community controlled by USA. It was unacceptable. What France wanted was the strict European organization controlled by France. Secondly, Britain did not want to give up the economical independent right in The Commonwealth and was restrained in Eastern Europe.