Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

A proposal made by churchill (June 16, 1940) early in world war ii to translate the Anglo-French alliance into a political merger so as to keep France in the battle against Germany. The suggestion had originated two days earlier at a meeting between French and British representatives in London. One of those present was monnet , later a leading advocate of european integration . Churchill was initially skeptical about the idea, yet having visited France on June 11 and 13, he was aware that the resolve of reynaud's cabinet was faltering and that it was close to requesting an armistice. The suggestion about union was read down the phone by de gaulle , then in London, to the French premier on the afternoon of June 16. Reynaud was buoyed by the scheme, yet other colleagues were less impressed, believing that the war was already over and that this was merely a ruse by perfidious Albion to acquire French colonies. Having already failed to enlist American support for continuation of the war, Reynaud resigned late the same day. Thus he made way for pétain who quickly concluded the Franco-German armistice. Though some in the British government were relieved that Churchill's proposal had failed, the brusqueness of its dismissal was deeply resented, and contributed to making Britain's post-1945 dealings with France all the more cautious. In September 1956, during the suez crisis ... log in or subscribe to read full text