France, indominable France, proud -- some say haughty -- republican -- some say ogliarchic -- independent -- some say indifferent -- France, a nation for the ages. Or until such time as she can cut herself a better deal.

ALLO, HELLO
Oh, Mon Dieu! France Wanted Union With UK

January 16, 2007 (Mirror) - France asked to be united with Britain in the 50s accepting the Queen as joint head of state, former secret papers disclose.

When the request was turned down, France urged that she should be allowed to join the Commonwealth. But that also got the thumbs down.

The extraordinary plans were found locked in the National Archives, says the BBC. Significantly, no record is thought to exist in French archives.

At the time of the proposals in 1956 France was in economic difficulty and feared isolation at the time of Suez.

On September 10 that year, French Premier Guy Mollet visited London to discuss a merger between the two countries with Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden. A Cabinet paper reads:

"Monsieur Mollet raised with the Prime Minister the possibility of a union between the UK and France."

A document of September 28 records a talk between Sir Anthony and Cabinet Secretary Sir Norman Brook:

"The PM told him (Brook) we should give immediate consideration to France joining the Commonwealth. Monsieur Mollet had not thought there need be difficulty over France accepting the headship of Her Majesty. The French would welcome common citizenship."

A year later, France signed up to the new Common Market. Britain, blocked by General de Gaulle, was left out in the cold.

Astute Pave readers will remember our earlier post where le Maréchal, finding surrender to Germany unsatisfactory, tried unsuccessfully to surrender France to Britain.

PFFT (What is this?): Eternal France 1 | Rayonnement français ½