THE CHOICE FOR BRITAIN

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32460, 21 November 1970, Page 10

THE CHOICE FOR BRITAIN

Commonwealth or Europe. By St. J. Barclay. University of Queensland Press. 210 pp. Bibliography, notes and index. “Commonwealth or Europe” is an extended historical study of the choice posed in its title, a choice which has appeared to face Britain • almost since the end of World War 11. For the New Zealander, of course, the British decision is of considerable national importance. Dr Barclay, a former research officer in the New Zealand Treasury and now a lecturer in international relations at the University of Queensland, explores the idea of European union from the days of wartime resistance movements onwards and considers the attitudes towards union of countries inside and outside the Continent. He concludes that the choice has never been a simple one for Britain between her position at the head of the Commonwealth and her aspirations to encourage and be part of a European federalism. At one point Britain might well have been able to maintain her position in the Commonwealth and also become part of Europe; now, perhaps, neither alternative is possible as a long-term policy. Dr Barclay argues most plausibly that up to 1958 Britain always claimed to be choosing the Commonwealth when, in all likelihood, it would have been possible for her to join the European community and bring the Commonwealth with her, it would have been possible to “have it both ways.” Since that time, and especially since 1961, successive British Governments have obviously preferred the idea of choosing Europe but have been prevented’ from doing so by the Europeans'. “The basic weakness of post-war

British policy has been its failure to recognise these essential facts in time and act accordingly,” he writes. “More than two decades after World War II the United Kingdom is still seeking an appropriate role in the post-war world. The options are running out.” For the present, Dr Barclay would prefer to see a closer connection between Britain and North America, rather than an uncompromising commitment to "enter Europe” which must leave almost all the bargaining power in the hands of the E.E.C. countries. Britain’s position has become slightly more flexible since the Conservative Government came to power but only slightly. And it is hard to argue with the author’s contention that Britain will not be admitted to the E.E.C. on acceptable terms as long as there is any possibility of her effectively challenging French or German domination there. The North American countries would certainly treat Britain’s Commonwealth connections no worse than would the Europeans, and probably with a great deal more sympathy.

This is a useful book in providing a sense of historical perspective for the current negotiations between Britain and the Six. It is by no means straightforward throughout, however, and at 1 times Dr Barclay has an unfortunate capacity to bury his conclusions in the complexity of his discussion. At this time, and in New Zealand, the issues he discusses are so important that it is to be hoped that very many readers will overlook these shortcomings; “Commonwealth or Europe” offers a chance to become much better informed about the most important issue facing New Zealand in its external relations at the present, time.