On the European Foothills
THERE are two Anglo-Saxon attitudes which the leaders of the new Europe find particu- larly irritating. One, frequently displayed by Mr. Selwyn Lloyd, is the 'but of course we're Euro- peans!' line when it is coupled with a determina- tion to do nothing which would provide a concrete demonstration that the words have any meaning. The other is the whine 'We want to co-operate, but the Six (or the French) won't play.' The Six, I am afraid,' Mr. Reginald Maud- ling complained to the National Press Club on Tuesday, 'are not prepared to negotiate, or even to state the terms upon which they would con- template negotiating an association with the Seven.' But the Six do not want to negotiate an association with the Seven, or Britain. Why should they? Britain had her opportunity to join in with them, and she did not take it; so they Went ahead on their own. If Britain wishes to join them now, she must come in on the Six's terms. It is as simple as that..
Mr. Maudling was an unfortunate choice as Minister in charge. This is, admittedly, hind- sight; at the time when negotiation was possible he sounded the right man for the job: business- like, alert, unlikely to be duped. But as things turned out, what was needed was not bargaining but diplomacy, and Mr. Maudling is no diplomat; he managed to put six backs up—none more rigidly than the French back. The right man for the job was—and is—somebody who can find a way to bring Britain and the Six together in an agreement that looks as if it is based on negotia- tion and comprimise, though in fact it will merely mean that the Government has climbed down. The Prime Minister could do it; he might even make it sound as if it represented a notable strategic victory for the Government, and a moral victory for Conservative principles. Per- haps now that he has been compelled to lower his eyes from the summit he may have time to study the mistakes that have been made on the foothills: for the longer the decision to join the Six is delayed the more difficult the process will become.
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