ABSTRACT
The prospect that de Gaulle would prevent Britain’s accession to the European Community was widely debated in 1966-7.2 Thus, there was considerable doubt as to how Wilson could hope to attain membership. Richard Grossman maintained that the rationale for success lay in Wilson’s diplomatic vanity: Wilson ‘already regards himself as an expert on foreign affairs and a statesman able to achieve what no professional diplomat can achieve’.3 An alternative interpretation suggests that Wilson was certain the initiative would fail, but proceeded for domestic political reasons. He never intended to take Britain into the EEC, but sought to isolate the French in Europe and to appease the desires of the pro-European right.4 Both these interpretations require modification.
