Made Moon Blog

It’s becoming increasingly clear that one of the biggest hurdles in getting people on board for joining the Euro is undoubtedly convincing the British public that perhaps it isn’t such a bad idea as they think. This attitude is reflected in that of a large segment of leading figures such as Peter Sutherland who believe that perhaps joining the Euro would be a sensible decision. In the somber crisis-ridden last days of peace before the first World War commenced, the British Foreign Secretary, Sir Edward Grey, was repeatedly pressed by his French and Russian colleagues to state, categorically that the United Kingdom would remain faithful to its Entente with the French and warn Germany that war with England was indeed an inevitability. Each time Grey skillfullykept up his room for manoeuvre and resisted the pressure. All the way up until August 1st he could adamantly maintain that London could not leave neutrality “for the simple reason that public opinion would not sanction any other course”. At the Cabinet meeting that Sunday, a clear majority were against any involvement in the looming conflict. Both the City, many of whose prominent bankers were of German stock, and a large proportion of the media were against engagement. Grey kept his freedom of action right up until the last.

But the end was immanent. Four days later London had commenced with Germany. However shocking the present financial crisis, it is on a smaller scale, thankfully, than 1914 but the question arises as to whether British pragmatism responding to dramatic events might not be capable of engineering a similar volte-face; to be precise the embrace of British Euro membership after years of anti Euro sentiment from the self appointed representatives of Angleterre Profonde. As was the case in July 1914 there is no political motivation for European engagement at any level of any of the three main parties. A collective ambivalence towards the Euro worn at times heavily on the sleeve extends its deadening embrace which universal amongst all political parties. As history has time and time again told us, this does not necessarily means opinions can’t change. I for one believe that it is precisely that change of attitude which could play a major role in determining the future of Great Britain. Indeed it is vitally important that people do become more open to the idea of joining the Euro, and realize that rather than something to be feared it could in fact be our saving grace.