Tuesday 14 April 2015

What role did Winston Churchill play in European post-war integration?

Document 1: 1948 cartoon by Illingworth


Document 2: extracts from the speech Churchill gave in Zurich on the 19th September 1946

“If Europe were once united in the sharing of its common inheritance, there would be no limit to the happiness, to the prosperity and glory which its three or four hundred million people would enjoy. Yet it is from Europe that have sprung that series of frightful nationalistic quarrels, originated by the Teutonic nations, which we have seen even in this twentieth century and in our own lifetime, wreck the peace and mar the prospects of all mankind.[…]

There is a remedy which, if it were generally and spontaneously adopted, would as if by a miracle transform the whole scene [...] It is to re-create the European Family, or as much of it as we can, and provide it with a structure under which it can dwell in peace, in safety and in freedom.[…]

We must re-create the European family in a regional structure called, it may be, the United States of Europe. […]

The salvation of the common people of every race and of every land from war or servitude must be established on solid foundations and must be guarded by the readiness of all men and women to die rather than submit to tyranny.

In all this urgent work, France and Germany must take the lead together.

Great Britain, the British Commonwealth of Nations, mighty America, and I trust Soviet Russia - for then indeed all would be well - must be the friends and sponsors of the new Europe and must champion its right to live and shine."

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