Abstract
It is widely recognised that the Anglo-American ‘special relationship’ fluctuated following the Second World War. A “Persistent rivalry” was especially evident in policy towards the Middle East and its oil. Immediately after the war, the American attitude to Palestine seemed to complicate British policy. Events in Iran also reflected the clash between the British imperative to protect its national and imperial interests in the region on the one hand, and the American preoccupation with the Cold War and containment on the other. The subsequent differences over Egypt/ Nasser are a matter of public record as are the problems which arose over the British withdrawal from “East of Suez”. Perhaps the very closeness of the relationship between the UK and the US served to heighten expectations.
Highlights
That the Anglo-American ‘special relationship’ fluctuated following the Second World War is widely recognized
Even in the aftermath of Britain’s unwelcome - from the American perspective - announcement in 1968 of its intention to withdraw from East of Suez, the US State Department felt able to observe: ‘The special relationship has been pronounced dead as often as Martin Bormann has been reported alive
Perhaps the best evidence that it is still alive is the fact that its detractors feel obliged to re-announce its death every few months.’[3]. Edward Heath’s studied coolness to Washington notwithstanding, successive British Prime Ministers have had little compunction in ostentatiously adhering to the concept of the special relationship
Summary
That the Anglo-American ‘special relationship’ fluctuated following the Second World War is widely recognized.
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