The Big Three: Taylor, Bérenger, Winterton

Abstract

This chapter profiles the three men who would dominate the forthcoming meeting at Evian: Myron C. Taylor of the United States, Henry Bérenger of France, and Lord Winterton of the United Kingdom. It will be shown that the three leaders each possessed individual backgrounds and life experiences, but that each, in their own way, were suited to represent their country’s interest at the conference. Further, the chapter examines why their respective governments could rely on them to convey an appropriate tone in acting for the interests of their countries. Finally, the chapter makes clear that the three leaders were never going to be able to provide a solution to the refugee problem in view of the fact that this was not within their brief.

Official diplomacy must carry on in the world as it is, and not in the world as it should be.

Daniele Varè (Daniele Varè, The Handbook of the Perfect Diplomat, cited in James O. Mays, “Extracts from The Handbook of the Perfect Diplomat,” Foreign Service Journal, vol. 50, no. 1 (January 1973), pp. 4–6)