All,
This is a thought expressed in Barry Turner's book: "Suez 1956"
Very good book in amy respects.
One of the things he is claiming is that because the French felt really let down by Eden as he would not carry on without US backing, the French were not interested inhaving UK into the EEC (as it was at that time).
De Gaulle obviously carries the can for not letting UK in, but Turner claims it goes back to the British snub of France over Suez.
Interesting thoughts:
1) France and Britain singing in perfect harmony and occupying the canal zone. never mind that they will be getting evicted, but they are now best friends: How will that affect EEC? with UK in much ealier?
2) If UK is in earlier, how will the relationship between France and Germany pan out?
3) How will Britain benefit from an early start in Europe. Bearing in mind that the empire has to go or at least is going?
There are some opportunities in this thought which I have not mastered as of yet.
Comments?
Ivan