Europe against De Gaulle

The central thesis of this book is that de Gaulle's veto on British entry into the Common Market was not only a sore blow for Britain, but also a blow struck at the European Community and at Western unity. De Gaulle's attitude prevents the Six from carrying the Community process further towards federalism and the realisation of "Monnet's revolu tion". It also blocks closer and more effective partnership with the United States, and jeopardises Europe's relations with the emergent nations.

Mr. Pinder believes that battle must now openly be joined between de Gaulle's concept of Europe l'Europe des Patries, with France dominating an old-style alliance of chauvinist, inward-looking states and Monnet's concept of Community Europe democratic, federal and outward-looking. He argues that it is only in the context of this struggle that de Gaulle's attack on the Western alliance can be repulsed.

The initiative for overcoming gaullism lies with the supporters of Monnet's Europe within the Six, with the United States, and with Britain. The "Europeans" must stand firm and resist de Gaulle's efforts to put the clock back and turn the European Community away from the pragmatic federalism achieved so far. The United States must refuse to be bluffed into isolationism, and keep open the offer of Atlantic partnership. Mr. Pinder outlines the policies to be pursued by the Five and the United States to counter de Gaulle.

Britain, he contends, can play a key part in the struggle against de Gaulle, for she is, apart from France, the only country with which the Five could form a balanced Political Community. If Britain adopts a federalist policy, the author believes that France would be faced with the alternative of fully accepting the Community method or of seeing herself excluded from its development in the political field.