Malicious Conception: the Counter-Initiative, June–December 1955

Abstract

On 15 June 1955, in his inaugural speech to the House of Commons as Foreign Secretary, Harold Macmillan referred to ‘important events’ during the previous month which ‘marked the opening of a new phase in post-war European history’.1 Amongst these were the formal end of West Germany’s occupation, its accession to NATO and the creation of the British-inspired WEU. Significantly, however, Macmillan made no reference to the conference of the Six powers which had taken place in Messina from 1–2 June. Yet the Foreign Secretary was fully aware of this most recent expression of the Six’s determination to advance western European integration. On the day of his Commons speech, he had also officially informed the Luxembourg Minister of Foreign Affairs that the British government would ‘consider most carefully’ their response to an invitation from the Six to participate in studies for a European Common Market and a European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom).2 Macmillan’s exclusion of the Messina conference from his list of important European events was an early indication of British scepticism of the Six’s plans which was to ensure that Britain was not amongst the founder members of the EEC. Instead, in autumn 1955, the Eden government mounted a failed attempt to prevent its creation.