Bevin,Ernest (1881–1951)

Abstract

Ernest Bevin (1881–1951) was the foreign secretary in Clement Attlee's Labour government from 1945–51. He was from a solid, traditional Labour Party background, having spent much of his early political life in the Trade Union movement. In post he realized that the wartime alliance of Britain, the USA, and the Soviet Union was unlikely to be transferred into the postwar period and that Britain needed to ensure the security of Europe against the incursions of Soviet‐backed communism. To do this he forged strong relationships with the USA in aiding the delivery of the European Recovery Programme and the formation of NATO. His success in Europe was not to be repeated in the Middle East over Palestine, but this should not detract from his status as a major political diplomatic figure.