1957 – Britain’s rival to the EU

Sir Alan Donald recalls how one of his first jobs in the British Foreign Office in 1957 was to work on setting up a rival to the European Common Market. Britain had been denied entry to Europe by France and so tried to set up a rival organisation called the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). He also comments on the deep rift in the Foreign Office between those who favoured Europe and those who believed Britain should stick closely to the USA. A rift that still exists today!

See the YouTube video here