A Plea for Reconciliation
The shadow of World War Two seemed to loom larger in Britain than in some other European countries that had actually suffered under German occupation. That is why a remarkable plea for reconciliation, made by Prince Philip on 15 November 1960, had a great impact. Some people, he said, found it difficult "to see any virtue in forgiving one's enemies, but let them reflect that that is more likely to achieve a better future than stoking the fires of hatred and suspicion."
He was not suggesting that one should try and forget the past, Prince Philip went on to say, but that the future was much more important. "I don't believe that people in this country realise the very significant growth of European feeling that has taken place on the Continent, particularly among the younger generation. "It is not my business luckily to discuss how this country should reconcile its membership of the European Community with its membership of the Commonwealth Community. But it must be apparent that that is exactly what we must do, unless of course, we want to take up that most undignified attitude which results from sitting down between two stools."
