(
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relationship with the US, but this will need
to be explored at more length in the
separate Planning paper on US/European/Japan
relations. Same remark applies to last
indent of C below].
C. Should we beat them or join them? Obvious
problems about "beating":
- no other alliance of comparable weight
available to us within Europe (though
Italians sometimes hint at offering it);
trying to form a coalition of all other
Europeans against France/FRG neither
realistic nor responsible. We should be
placing ourselves of intent in the "outer
circle";
looking right outside Europe eg to the US
for our major
or Commonwealth
-
relationships and/or leverage is no longer a
true option. If we fail in Europe now we
cannot succeed in the world (although see
also D (iv) below).
Joko ?!
D.
But must also be realistic about "joining":-
i)
must recognise aspects of the
Franco-German relationship which we
cannot (and probably would not want to)
replicate: history, geography, culture;
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