British PMHarold Wilson, left, meets with French President Charles de Gaulle at the Elysee Palace. Later that year, de Gaulle would veto Britain's efforts to join the-then EEC. After de Gaulle's death Britain eventually joined the EEC. Image: AP/PA Images British PMHarold Wilson, left, meets with French President Charles de Gaulle at the Elysee Palace. Later that year, de Gaulle would veto Britain's efforts to join the-then EEC.
Membership of the EEC had increased from six to nine that year – Ireland also joined in 1973, alongside Denmark. The Conservative government’s europhile prime minister Edward Heath described Britain’s entry to the bloc as “very moving”.On 31 December 1972, the eve of the big day, the British press devote their front pages to the event.
Meanwhile the most passionate advocates against joining the EEC organise their last stand that day. Five hundred people join a torchlit procession to the sound of bagpipes in front of the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the British parliament.Festivities celebrating the event got under way on 2 January 1973, at a “European” dinner with 258 attendees hosted by the British Council at Hampton Court Palace, the former royal residence.
“You suck up to us, and then once we’re in your sacred trap, your fool’s paradise, you’ll make us fall out with our real friends, the Americans, the Canadians, the Australians. And you’ll all become communists and take us down with you.”
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Source: IrishTimes - 🏆 3. / 98 Read more »
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