The German Elephant and the British Whale

For hundreds of years, The British and Germans regarded each other as natural allies. This was partly because their peoples had a similar outlook, and partly because they had common rivals in France and Russia. Mainly, though, it was because their interests almost never clashed. Britain's outlook was maritime, Germany's, continental. Nineteenth-century diplomats called it "the equilibrium of the elephant and the whale".

Although he does not put it quite that way, Joschka Fischer seems to have reached a similar view. In an interview with his newspaper, the German Foreign Minister says he now accepts that the British will never regard the EU in the way the Germans do. This may seem obvious, but it represents a major shift in German thinking. Until now, successive German leaders have hoped and believed that Britain would end up coming on board with the European project. There are various reasons for this. Some Germans have a romantic belief that Europe is incomplete without the British; others fear the effect that a prosperous, independent Britain might have on their own domestic opinion; still others seem, touchingly, to crave our approval, and interpret our stand-offishness towards Brussels as a snub to them.

In reality, much of the bitterness between Britain and Germany is the result of the two nations being jammed together within the EU. Forcing states with different issues to pursue common policies often leads to resentment on both sides. The equilibrium of the elephant and the whale ended for two reasons: German military adventurism and British determination to be a European as well as a global player. The first is long past: modern Germany is a liberal democracy and a staunch ally. But the second persists. Every Prime Minister since Harold Macmillan has been prepared to sign up to policies which are not in Britain's immediate interest for the sake of influence in Europe. Tony Blair's readiness to accept the EU constitution is no different, in this regard, from John Major's support for the Maastricht Treaty, or Margaret Thatcher's for the Single European Act.

The trouble is that this policy has never been explained to, or endorsed by, the electorate. Voters naturally feel frustrated. And while the proper targets for their frustration are British politicians, they may express it as hostility towards the more integrationist states, above all Germany. This, in turn, creates a backlash in Germany, where Britain is seen as truculent and whingeing. How much better for all concerned if the federalist counties were able to pursue Mr Fischer's vision of European statehood, while the United Kingdom stood to one side as a friend and sponsor. Britain and Germany would cease to be squabbling tenants and become good neighbours. Mr Fischer seems to understand this. If only our own politicians could see it too.
Editorial, The Daily Telegraph, 31st January 2004

Further Resources:
Ten Minutes to Midnight by Phillip Day
Vigilance by Ashley Mote
The Real Face of the European Union (PAL video documentary) by Phillip Day

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