The Projection of British Socialism: Foreign Office Publicity and American Opinion, 1945-50

Abstract

Abraham Lincoln once said, 'Public sentiment is everything. With public sentiment nothing can fail. Without it nothing can succeed. Consequently he who moulds public opinion goes deeper than he who enacts statutes or pronounces decisions.' This is still profoundly true of the United States.' His views were representative of beliefs shared by officials in the British embassy in Washington, and by colleagues in the Foreign Office in London. Apprised in 1945 of Britain's fragile economic position, and her immediate need for postwar American financial aid, and alert to American policy's apparent dependence on American public support, Foreign Office officials saw a direct relationship between American public opinion and the fulfilment of British interests.2 Writing to Lord President of the Council, Herbert Morrison, the new Foreign Secretary, Ernest Bevin, expressed it thus: 'In the present state of our relations with the United States we must attach great value to the proper guidance of