Sir In a nice caricature reproduced by the Figaro, you
represent Mr Heath offering Great Britain on Platter to the European imperialWs from Julius Caesar to Hitler.
May I first state that I have several English friends, an English son-in-law, that during the past sixteen years I have spent holidays in Great Britain every year; however, on.e can love England and yet criticise her politics.
I believe that the reasons for Great Britain's entry into the Common Market are essentially: I. The high increase in the national product of the Six, whereas it is weak in GB. 2. The setback of the group of Seven instituted by GB with the Scandinavian countries, Switzerland, Austria and Portugal. Let us not search further into the economics or politics. Your caricature simplifies history; I also will simplify my cornInents.
Let us leave aside Julius Caesar and Richelieu; let us look at Napoleon. Do not forget that peace reigned in Europe after the Treaty ,of Amiens (1802) and that it was England who broke it. France reacted, which troubled the financiers Of the City and above all England did not want a French presence in Belgium although it was not BonaParte who had conquered Belgium. Let us look at Bismarck. It is true that the English government, With reason, had dissuaded, in 1870, the Imperial government from declaring war on Prussia in the face Of Bismarck's provocations. However, after the French defeat, England did not intervene diplomatically as she could have done and She would have been supported by Austria and Russia, to limit the Prussian expansion and prevent the annexation of Alsace-Lorraine Which was, among others, one of the causes for the first world war. The English government following Its conception of European equilibrium, its traditional policy of balancing, was thus not troubled by the debasement of France.
Jfl 1914, the situation was reversed, The German war marine and merchant navy developed at a rate dangerous for Great Britain and Wilhelm II invaded Belgium. Great Britain then contributed greatly to the victory of 1918 and the French can only be grateful for this A new reversion in 1918 this time it is France which is predominant on the Continent. The English statesmen bear a great responsibility for the rise of Hitler and Incontestably for the development of Hitler Germany's military power. In effect Great Britain opposed the Military measures which France wanted to take in 1936 when Hitler re-occupied the right side of the Rhine and, unfortunately, the Prench statesmen had not the courage to act otherwise. Great Britain consented, contrary to the treaties, to an increase in the German navy. Let us pass over the Anschluss which Henderson (unless I, am mistaken as I have not the documents on hand) admits readily and the handing over of Czecho
slavakia at Munich by Chamberlain, approved it is true, by Daladier.
After this abandonment, and following Poland's rapprochement with Germany which gave it a piece of Czechoslovakia, the territory of Teschen, one sees then English politics turn towards war, leading Poland not to negotiate with Hitler as is shown in the tecent book by Mosley (unless I am mistaken). Great Britain went so far as to guarantee twice and then again the Polish frontiers, the last time maybe in August 1939, when Great Britain went to war, with France following. Not content with having left Hitler time to prepare from 1936 to 1939, he was allowed to crush Poland and to develop his war industry.
In conclusion, let us therefore leave the past; every nation has mistakes to reproach itself with. Let us smile at the caricature and let us rejoice together in seeing Europe uniting. J. Parisot 7 rue du Temple, 95 Argenteuil, France
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