Assess The Claim That Political Factors Were The Main Reasons Why British Attitude To Europe Changed During The Period From 1945-1963

1955 saw the start of   the Western European Union and talks began at Messina about a European Economic Community, the EEC. Britain maintained a strong opinion when referring to Europe and the EEC. This being scepticism, Britain didn’t take these plans very seriously. Such feelings were clearly displayed, when Britain didn’t even send an Ambassador to the Messina Conference. Instead, in keeping with their, thus far sceptical approach, only an observer was sent on the British behalf, rather than Foreign Sectary of State Harold MacMillan. Britain’s feelings hadn’t changed by 1957 when the Treaty of Rome, which created the EEC, which was signed by the six. Italy, France, Western Germany and the Benelux countries, but not by Britain.

There are many reasons why Britain had such a negative and sceptical attitude towards Europe. The main reason being European organisations such as the EEC and EDC. The   motivation for Britain’s decline of the EEC, was because Britain politicians didn’t want British national sovereignty to be challenged. Britain was simply opposed to any supranational organisation. (Meaning “above the nation,” where nations, like Britain, give some national sovereignty, power, to European institutions.) The first possible supranational organisation was the EDC, European Defence committee. This was proposed by the French, along with the Schuman Plan, which led to establishment of the European Coal and Steal Community, ECSC. These were in a similar fashion to the Pleven Plan, which was a French solution to possible threat from Germany.

Above links directly to another reason why Britain was sceptical and not very interested by Europe. This being, that they didn’t share the same anxieties. The French felt threatened by the possibility of Germany becoming one of the strongest states in Europe, due to their great industry. France felt that Germany couldn’t be trusted with such a position, and instead need to be contained. They felt they could do this...