... as being so desirable as to override the importance of national sovereignty. Therefore it is not surprising that the following pan-European initiatives were, at least in terms of presentation, created with far more emphasis on the functional importance of collaboration than on any romantic notion of a future of federal union. The first such initiative was the European Defence Community of the early 1950's. Borne out of the perceived necessity to unite militarily against the Soviet threat, the EDC gained a warmer reception from the British. However, once it became apparent that such an undertaking was only viable if it were to be conducted under the auspices of some form of European government, not only did Britain insist on a purely associated status, the French refused to ratify the proposal. This particular episode is perhaps characteristic of the traditional pattern of European relations, for whilst Britain is constantly portrayed as the ...

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