Changing perspectives in British foreign policy

This essay had its origins in a proposal, made in the autumn of 1963, that discussion should be organized in Chatham House on the problems which face Britain after her attempt to join the European Economic Community and its failure in January 1963. It was suggested that a publication dealing with this subject should be planned to appear if possible early in the lifetime of the new parlia ment which would result from the general election of 1964.

In view of the controversial nature of the subject and the limited time available, it was thought that a report attempting to represent the consensus of opinion of a Study Group would run the risk of ending as little more than a record of differing points of view and would in any case take too long to produce. It was therefore decided that the publication should be the work of an individual author, after participation in discussions with a Study Group, whose members would not be asked to take responsibility for the opinions expressed in the essay.