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Churchill Never Meant For Britain To Be In The European Union

Lorna Thomas - 3/30/2008

Winston Churchill's speech in Zürich on 19 September, 1946 about a European union has at times been misquoted, misinterpreted and misapplied. French President Sarkozy addressed the British Parliament on 26 March, 2008. In an attempt to persuade (some say flatter and seduce) Britain into the European Union, given the upcoming ratification process of the Lisbon Treaty - an act which will inevitably result in her loss of sovereignty, self-rule and freedom, Sarkozy referred to Sir Winston Churchill by saying: “No one will ever forget that the first great voice which rose up after the war to call on Europe's peoples to unite was that of the statesman who had alone embodied the passionate resistance of the British nation. No one will ever forget that the name of Europe's first father was Winston Churchill.

Thirty-five years ago, the United Kingdom chose Europe. Today, more than ever before, Europe needs the United Kingdom and the United Kingdom needs Europe.”

However, Mr Sarkozy did not refer to the fact that Churchill never inferred or intended that Britain should be part of a European Union. On the contrary, he referred to Britain as part of the British Commonwealth of Nations – not part of Europe. His proposal was instead that a United States of Europe include a partnership between France and Germany – not Britain.

His words were:

“There is no reason why a regional organisation of Europe should in any way conflict with the world organisation of the United Nations. On the contrary, I believe that the larger synthesis will only survive if it is founded upon coherent natural groupings.

There is already a natural grouping in the Western Hemisphere. We British have our own Commonwealth of Nations. These do not weaken, on the contrary they strengthen, the world organisation. They are in fact its main support. And why should there not be a European group which could give a sense of enlarged patriotism and common citizenship to the distracted peoples of this turbulent and mighty continent and why should it not take its rightful place with other great groupings in shaping the destinies of men? In order that this should be accomplished, there must be an act of faith in which millions of families speaking many languages must consciously take part.

We all know that the two world wars through which we have passed arose out of the vain passion of a newly united Germany to play the dominating part in the world.

In this last struggle crimes and massacres have been committed for which there is no parallel since the invasions of the Mongols in the fourteenth century and no equal at any time in human history. The guilty must be punished. Germany must be deprived of the power to rearm and make another aggressive war.

But when all this has been done, as it will be done, as it is being done, there must be an end to retribution. There must be what Mr Gladstone many years ago called 'a blessed act of oblivion'.

We must all turn our backs upon the horrors of the past. We must look to the future. We cannot afford to drag forward across the years that are to come the hatreds and revenges which have sprung from the injuries of the past.

If Europe is to be saved from infinite misery, and indeed from final doom, there must be an act of faith in the European family and an act of oblivion against all the crimes and follies of the past.

Can the free peoples of Europe rise to the height of these resolves of the soul and instincts of the spirit of man?

If they can, the wrongs and injuries which have been inflicted will have been washed away on all sides by the miseries which have been endured.

Is there any need for further floods of agony? Is it the only lesson of history that mankind is unteachable?

Let there be justice, mercy and freedom.

The peoples have only to will it, and all will achieve their hearts' desire.

I am now going to say something that will astonish you.

The first step in the re-creation of the European family must be a partnership between France and Germany.

In this way only can France recover the moral leadership of Europe.

There can be no revival of Europe without a spiritually great France and a spiritually great Germany.

The structure of the United States of Europe, if well and truly built, will be such as to make the material strength of a single state less important. Small nations will count as much as large ones and gain their honor by their contribution to the common cause.

I must now sum up the propositions which are before you.

Our constant aim must be to build and fortify the strength of the United Nations Organisation.

Under and within that world concept, we must re-create the European family in a regional structure called, it may be, the United States of Europe.

The first step is to form a Council of Europe.

If at first all the States of Europe are not willing or able to join the Union, we must nevertheless proceed to assemble and combine those who will and those who can.

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.” Extract from speech made by Winston Churchill in Zurich, 19th September, 1946.

As seen from the text, while he saw France and Germany taking the lead in Europe, Churchill saw Britain as a friend and sponsor of the new Europe rather than part of it.

Britain should be wary of being swept up and seduced by rhetoric and flattery or false promises and hopes of being at the center of the European Union. This will not happen.

Churchill led Britain through its darkest hours which were caused according to him by “the vain passion of a newly united Germany to play the dominating part in the world.”

Britain and its leaders should remember that Churchill at no stage said Britain should be part of the European Union.

Churchill wondered "Is it the only lesson of history that mankind is unteachable?"

Will Britain repeat history's hard lesson once more?