Britain’s Response to a Changing World

Abstract

Up to a point, Britain’s initial behaviour in the Congo crisis was confident and assertive. She was prepared, if necessary, to stand apart from the crowd. She felt that she could afford to court some unpopularity. Her continued readiness to do so was accentuated by the fact that her Foreign Secretary felt very strongly about events in the Congo and was disinclined to smother his views in diplomatic compromise. But by the time the crisis had run its course — and without a change of Foreign Secretary — Britain had to all intents and purposes abandoned that aspect of her policy on which she had hitherto placed the greatest emphasis. She had thrown in the towel.

‘We are a world power, and a world influence, or we are nothing.’ (The Labour Government’s Prime Minister, 1964)¹