The beginnings of a partnership

By Hasso von Etzdorf

My London years, from 1961 to 1965, concluded my career and were also its climax. I was fortunate to be in London when the newly-formed Anglo-German links developed into a partnership of friends. It was in this sense that my meetings with three Prime Ministers -- Harold Macmillan, Sir Alec Douglas-Home and Harold Wilson -- were memorable for me. My conversations with them and their actions convinced me that they regarded themselves to be in partnership with us. This accorded with the British policy of choosing the European path when the Commonwealth could no longer provide a future. A further factor was that we agreed in matters of Western security, that we were considered to be trustworthy in this respect, also that the Federal Republic had gained in importance for the world. We perceived echoes of these increasing links everywhere, particularly, of course, in the Foreign Office.

Professor Ludwig Erhard, Economics Minister in the Fourth Adenauer Cabinet at a Reception in the German Embassy in London in 1962 (from l. to r.): the Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr Selwyn Lloyd, Ambassador von Etzdorf and the Lord Privy Seal Mr Edward Heath.

These changes were also reflected in the British press. There were fewer doubts regarding the sincerity of the German democratic development and we found our attitude on the German question reflected in British official policy. Under the impact of our economic resurgence there was a willingness, too, not to endanger closer economic co-operation by being overcritical. The influence of this trend on public opinion which was increasingly concerned with Anglo-German or European matters was obvious.

All of this was, of course, very useful for the day-to-day business in our Embassy. Generally we found an understanding for our interests, and people were ready to help us get over any discordant notes that remained. One result was certainly that all of us liked being in London and were keen on our work in the Belgrave Square Embassy. This development was of benefit also to the Goethe Institute in London and the Scottish-German Centre in Glasgow where a lot of good work was done for cultural cooperation by their respective first Directors Baron Donald von Hirsch and Dr. Karl Hillebrand. The successful work of the London Chamber of Industry and Commerce as well as Anglo-German business links profited too.

For us those years were under auspicious stars even though the European Economic Community was only a "torso" because the British Government was as yet unable to take the final plunge.

Enlarge image Professor Ludwig Erhard, Economics Minister in the 4th Adenauer Cabinet at a Reception in the German Embassy in 1962 (from l. to r.): the Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr Selwyn Lloyd, Ambassador von Etzdorf and the Lord Privy Seal Mr Edward Heath