Churchill and Europe

Letter in The Daily Telegraph last week from Bryan Smalley of Much Hadham, Hertfordshire: "Sir - Supporters of the EU enjoy quoting extracts from Churchill's speeches, but usually omit the core of his message. In a speech in May 1953, Churchill said: "We are with Europe, but not of it. We are linked, but not comprised. We are associated, but not absorbed. And should any European statesman address us and say 'Shall we speak for thee?' we should reply 'Nay, Sir, for we live among our own people.'" Churchill always made it clear that he wanted a United States of Europe with Britain watching from the outside. He had no intention of deserting the Commonwealth"