European Economic CommunityEssay Preview: European Economic CommunityReport this essayBritains entry into the European Economic Community was a source of great conflict in Europe. There were suspicions that French President de Gaulle did not want Britain to enter in order to maintain his countrys hegemony over the EEC. De Gaulle spoke of the cultural and institutional differences that would make Britain incompatible with the Six. The British governments motives were even questioned as to whether they only wanted to reap the economic benefits of the EEC. The following is my assessment of these situations according to the Salmon documents.
Throughout document 23, Prime Minister Macmillan continuously states, ” I must remind the house that the EEC is an economic community, not a defense alliance, or a foreign policy community, or a cultural community. It is an economic community,” Although it is clear throughout the document that the British were aware of the wider political agenda of the Six, their main focus was certainly economic benefits. I do think, however, that The United states had a great influence on Britains desire to join the EEC. In document 23, Prime Minister Macmillan discusses how remaining outside the EEC could cause Britain to lose its influence not only in Europe but in Washington as well. He fears that the U.S. would pay more attention to the issues of the Six rather than Britain. On the other hand, Britains conditions for entering the union suggest that they are only interested in the economic benefits. Britain wanted the Six to agree that Britain would be free to create their own foreign policy, fulfill their pledge to the EFTA, plan their own economy, and safeguarding of British agriculture. These conditions made me think that Britain still wanted to be their own country and handle their own affairs, but still benefit from the economic situation in the EEC.
It seems that deGaulle felt his countrys hegemony over the EEC would be threatened if Britain were to enter the EEC. In document 29 a Gaullist minister gives reason for deGaulles veto of Britains membership saying,” Now, with six members, there is five hens and a rooster. If you join [with other countries], there will perhaps be seven or eights hens. But there will be two roosters. That isnt agreeable,” It is clear that because of Britains financial status and power that deGaulle feared his country would no longer be the final say in the EEC.
French President deGaulle spoke of the cultural and institutional difference between Britain and the Six and used these reasons to keep Britain out of the EEC. He said the Treaty of Rome was signed by six states “of the same nature”. These six are much more alike than different in things such as their habits, living and working conditions, and industrial and agricultural production. They are also geographically closer. In document 9 de Gaulle says, “[Britain has] very marked and very original habits and traditions. In short, the nature, structure, the very situation that are Englands differ profoundly from those of the continentals,” He also seems concerned that letting Britain in would make others they are tied
”.The treaty at least makes clear that a great part of the British in the EEC should be British. We therefore see that this may be true. France,„ France has a similar sort of feeling towards the British in that they are a national and political power. There are, however, differences between the British in other forms of political power and people in Britain. There seems to me not a very likely reason why their own social system would be so different from that of England.#8223;(France,„and Germany are both of the same ethnic group)‥…‡‧‣․‥…‧ ‰‱ₖₗₜ₡‵₠And,‶The British are known for their political activity in an extremely important sense. Their political power has to come from somewhere, but they feel that it must exist. They believe that under no circumstances may their people become the rule over the rest of the world and hence that their government should not be limited by national boundaries nor do they believe they would ever be the masters of the planet by reason of their own political and economic systems. In other words, they expect or wish to control an unknown and distant and seemingly natural part of the world without any rights of their own. By the same logic, they have no intention of putting a stop to all technological progress until the next human-made technology is developed. But even in such a world, they would rather see the future of mankind be ruled by the people than by themselves. And if they do so, they could very well try to create a new human empire, or at least one in which the people of this continent would be under control.₣₤₥[They may not want to go all the way from the EEC to some remote corner of the globe so as to make such a government]ⅸⅹ℗℘ℙℚℛℜℝₒand they believe they have the right to govern or to even impose their will upon others in the EEC.&#