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We're a bit like. Emerging from a memorable immovable path. Britain today faces the formidable task of defining the future. And this is our story a story of longer stands can tell a lie and this is bottom apparition. Yesterday his profile turns. Mrs.. Temple transition. In London's comic strip in company and. Rhythm.
Of a new revolution in Britain. Programme 13 the lion and the eagle. Indiana University Radio documented essay about contemporary Britain. We present the shadow of the lion with William Kinzer as your net writer. I didn't stay in America in eight in a plane bound up together. I mean that would be no possibility of
any but that knowing and Paul any breaking away from the American Now over the years the something dirty of Anglo-American relations has weathered a widening world of differences. Up close through mutual conflicts into common language. The two countries have in this center you cemented ties that would seem to most Bond unbreakable. As Malcolm Muggeridge observes August day in America in Aden a plane bound up together. Yes in the homes and shops of Wolverhampton Mar Sheffield Cardiff or coach Esther there are this very day reservations and the talk over team may take America to task for its actions and influence and psycho naturists or the Middle East. I think there are very mixed feelings in Britain about the United States.
Norman Mackenzie is a sociologist at the University of Sussex. He tells you there's a good deal of I think of an easy Association of feeling we are more or less the same part of the world and we do think more or less the same way a feeling that we will rub along together as Churchill once said in some fashion. But there is a good deal of feeling of not in the galaxy but suspicion of America very often a suspicion of American motives suspicion of American actions and well it has. And this feeling you find is aggravated by the humiliating turn of events that has seen Britain stripped of her mantle as a world power for it's not too difficult to remember when Britain was the world Malcolm Muggeridge recalls. It was 1924. He had taken a boat to India. He was 21 at the time. And everywhere the boats docked with British sea all the way
to India. Everywhere the Union Jack. Where the hood of that car in my lifetime said that in times of international power authority we had to climb and we've become a small island off the coast of Europe. Haunted by dreams of ganja. But actually they are just one of the people. And so it is a Britain smaller now on the map of the influential nations feels the pressure of great political powers and faces the quandary of assessing her own position in the contemporary struggle for world survival I think that at the moment the average British feel is that very much as though he is in the meat sandwich that he is the meat between two pieces of bread that he has between America and Russia.
The insight of British social worker urban Scots of Bradford. And in Scotland at the University of Strathclyde the professor by the name of D.T. Patterson analyzes the philosophical position in which Britain finds herself. Professor Patterson observes that America is obsessed with goodness and freedom but the front the recent one comes the more he finds the stress on duty. Or to put it another way the decision of right or wrong. The epitome of this of course is Russia and Russia. Well there there isn't any good you're doing right or you're not who you think you know it right or you're right or wrong. This is why you see in the Russia we believe that Americans are wrong. In America you see that actually in the bad you see my point. Even better we stand how we will be tween and this is that this is a bloody difficult situation for Britain and the British. I just I'm struck we're really I'm strong on the one hand english
speaking cousins so to speak don't you the same culture accentuating goodness and freedom and everything else when we're here and I think there's that accent on duty and rightness and wrongness but you know feet of where are we going now we don't know yet. Geographically a part of Europe. Britain has felt that pull of America. Right from the beginning of this century. So explains the director of the Center for Contemporary Cultural Studies at the University of Birmingham Richard Hoggart Professor Hoggard will tell you that many of Britain's working class had relatives in the United States during the 1900s and an opinion was formed of the new world across the Atlantic. The states often represented a sense of opportunity a place where the class system wasn't so strong. Well you and I and of the squire or the established show what you will and where a man could stand up more and
have more opportunity to get ahead by his own gifts. This was part of the general folklore which made working class people. It seems to me a problem to sympathize more with America. Most Britons however were adamant in their feelings that nothing equaled that the greatness of Great Britain and her empire and that he had cause for conceit. Victorian England was the epitome of manners and social grace. Europe the center of intellectual activity America. Well at best life there seemed raw and uncivilized. After the first war with the appearance of the cinema then American culture American popular culture. Hits British life especially the working class level very hot and continuous so that I grew up in a world after the first two I grew up in a world in which the pace setter in styles new forms of language
dress man as a whole lot of things entertainment was America. This was the lively and ejected exciting country. The motion picture its true created an awareness of American life. If but a Hollywood version of tinsel and toe tapping escapism penthouse glamour and gangsterism and then with World War Two came embassadors in O D. The American G.I. and Britons were able to obtain their impression of first hand. Some were favorable and fast friendships resulted but too often cocky unthinking Yanks created a boisterous unfeeling image of the ugly American whose Texas and paycheck seemed all out of proportion. A favorite British complaint was their overpaid overfed oversexed and over here. Britons have had their idealistic picture of America and Americans
cheated by the Americans. They've met and so have the Continentals Irvin Scott remembers a visit to Germany and to being invited by a townsman to have a drink. We sat down we had a drink together and we talked and I was the drinks flow and he his tongue with loosened and he asked me about it and why I was here and so forth and he finally made a statement. Dang Linda is that believed the Englishman is very popular here. Naturally I was pleased about this and said Why. And he made a statement I think which was printed with meaning when he said the American. Comes here and he flashes it money they do and does not try to buy friendship. Americans abroad are a funny lot. Overwhelmed by Europe they try desperately to please but too often present a backslapping overly exuberant caricature of generosity and to pull us. And when
rejected as they often are. Americans are surprised and more than a little hurt. I would say the great divisions between English and American the is that the English when they were on top of the world the one thing they really enjoyed was being courted or disliked by everybody. They knew that everybody loathed them and they thoroughly enjoyed it. You read the memoirs of English men in the 1900s travelling about Europe. Nothing gave them great depression they had the knowledge that everywhere they went they would and. That was the Americans who inherited debates and opposition to the ALP they combat the idea that they have no knob by all that the world has come to distrust if not dislike the American image and yet a way of life that is a part of this image the luxury of I see efficiency and affluence and super imposed itself on society the world over.
Britain included what is called the American way of life is rapidly encroaching. Upon England and Western Europe said that in a relatively short time we should be indistinguishable from America our culture their film the television. Popular literature on is American. And of course American power is such that this carries enormous prestige even with people who have to be anti-American sentiment. But if you dislike some aspects of American life. Norman McKenzie of the University of Sussex. They feel it's often too commercialized to jazz to Madison Avenue and yet the very things that are the product of all that often the things the English people want themselves they want the cars they want the washing machines they'll even prepared to accept the commercials on the television. Alastair Cook once observed that America shocks the phone then beguiles him then seduces him. And this magnetism
of modern living reaches into faraway lands for more than a decade now Britons have been X or bleed drawn into an undertow of 20th century change supermarket central heating drive ins dispensing machines high rise buildings and installment buying have become the hallmark of a new age which many do not applaud and too often it's labeled American when in reality it has little to do with the United States as a nation. Instead it represents material wealth that has resulted from great technological strides at the forefront of which has been the United States. Britain's leading American ologist her dentist broken has said what is called Americanization in the rest of the world is largely modern industrialization. He and others would be quick to point to a great wealth of natural resources in the United States to the upsurge of
mechanisation in America and to the immense domestic market. These are the factors that have created a standard of living envied and emulated all over the world. And so you have side by side with this rather slavish and edifying copying of America. You have a great deal of under ground or overt hostility to America. So in the homes and shops of Wolverhampton nor Sheffield Cardiff or Colchester there are rumblings of discontent as Malcolm Muggeridge would suggest when one of your space efforts goes wrong. More people than you would know in this country and in Western Europe generally who are delighted because it's gone wrong it's a stupid reaction. But it's rather that they take instinctively the. The feeling that
Americans are on top everywhere I know is that if you have a disaster and you have a red vest in Viet Nam a lot of people here who are rather pleased they might not even be conscious of that body I might say were bad luck. But actually that a rather creative thought feeling and the feeling isn't new. Where ever powerful nations have held sway. Rome and Napoleonic France Britain herself. They soon became despised distrusted and defiled and with a by disillusionment animosity or envy people of the world were prone to think hard thoughts. In the case of Britain it has been particularly difficult for her to walk in the shadow of the United States to support a unilateral policy that is too often controversy and in the wake of serious problems at home many Britons complain about their country
and their leadership. Some have even emigrated to Australia or to Canada bitterly disappointed are they at Britain's diminished role in world affairs. One described the country as the patient dog running mutant uncomplaining beneath the carriage wheels of America. In the course of time and Human Events such fears and faithlessness will be reckoned with. But the residue remaining the ill will the anger the gloom corrodes the values of truth and encourages generalities misunderstanding Britain's smarting under the twist of national fate have been quick to misjudge others and to themselves chastised by fears they have
become overly introverted and this one Englishman acknowledged. We're tearing at our own wombs without really finding answers. We seem morbidly fascinated by our own collapse. Equally wrong us the way others have misjudged Britain. Richard Hoggart strong labor right. Feels Americans are not being told the true story of Britain today whilst admitting that much of our industry and commerce needs overhauling. Americans don't understand how much has been done and against what odds in major sectors of the economy. That's what I said. Secondly Americans are told by their press and their radio and television so much that the only form of country is that in which you have totally free competition virtually which looks to me very often like piracy. The Americans as a result of being told this again and again and again do not know the extent to which national provision nationalization or provision of education. Welfare
medical care and all that real estate they don't have no idea of the extent to which that has succeeded. And Britain still lead the world in many quarters. They've received 42 Nobel Prizes in science their most inventive having introduced to the world the many wonderful and far reaching achievements including the jet radar the vertical takeoff aircraft the hovercraft. The first nuclear power station in the arts. They have also excelled especially the theatre and lately the cinema they have blazed their own particular trail at the popular level. And American influence. Professor Hawking will tell you as the cinema declined an influence and as a whole lot of other forces took over so we at the popular level as I say and especially among teenagers we less and less take notice of American coaches because less and less a pacesetter there are exceptions to this a recent one is Bonnie and
Clyde which has had a profound impact in Britain and is one of the first. Sharply effective pieces of American popular culture to help to set styles in Britain. Yes it's true. England has developed a new image a modern age individuality our youthful swinging self styled zest for living. So unlike the British stereotype and a key contribution to American knowledge of Great Britain in the 60s is the recognition of a stirring struggle for more than survival a feeling of future. And whether inspired by economic urgency or national foresight a searching analysis into a number of treasured institutions and traditions have given promise to the Britain of tomorrow. And this alone this long the hard look at even the hallowed sectors of British society is to Britain's credit and this has been a function
of this series to mark the dimensions of a country in transition. To describe Britain's concern over such social entities as the automobile. All right. We think and our expert estimates that we may have doubled this number in about 10 years time situation going to 20 million. Now when you look at the map of this country and you look at the State of the towns and cities you can see for yourself that just ain't going to be enough road space to allow completely unrestrained use of the personal vehicle Town and Country Planning. We think that by building fairly modest size new towns what you can do is to create decent conditions for family life and efficient conditions for business enterprise. The new towns are very very successful in industrial and commercial terms. Education.
Most of the selection of British schoolchildren for types of secondary education which type they go into it is decided the age of 11 and this was a fairly arbitrary age it was taken for administrative reasons and pre-war years. It may be that we want to select them if we do select the mentor at different ages because of this area maturing. I don't know but this is the type of social problem and an educational problem that's coming up as a result of these changes. Even the church. In certain parts of the world it isn't difficult to rearrange so it's not so difficult to rearrange the life of the church so that it relates to the community as it now is but in our country we live within a legal straitjacket because of the establishment. And I would say that perhaps the most serious problem for the Church of England is its inheritance from the past symptoms of change.
The rumble of the revolution the urgency to keep pace to compose a solvent future to emerge from the entanglements of tradition and to stand secure in a changing world and change is absolutely essential. It's happening in the pub in the palace in the outlook of the people. Gone are the follies of the Empire and the glories of the war left exposed are cold realities of a dame but different world. The Perilous economy a shrinking Commonwealth the constriction of intense world competition. And where does Britain turn to America. Many would think not many would hope for a united Europe a bloc of trading nations of economic strength to compete with the powers of the east and the West. Such a bloc was set up by the treaties of Rome in March 1957 it was called the East Sea or the European economic community or more commonly the Common Market. Britain distrustful of political
unification which might conflict with both British sovereignty and Commonwealth has proposed a looser Free Trade Association which was called EFTA. Two rifle trading blocks in Western Europe seemed unwise and indeed unnecessary in Britain. Both parties like public opinion itself were split on the issue. In 1961 the British government moved toward an application to the Common Market and throughout 1962 negotiations went forward with considerable success. But in January 1963 General Charles de Gaulle abruptly demanded that negotiations end and I think with a fair and reasonable cleavage of you. To go to our part of the interest was to comply to the Treaty of Rome and we thought that our interests would get through that were changes in the Treaty of Rome. I'm going to yank him between close to recognize from the third or fourth for the Treaty of Rome. I
likewise have bet that way but we've got a method of you and I would predict that in the next two or three years. There will be an agreement between the whole of Africa and the common market and these two groups will come together. This note of optimism was summed up by a prominent leader in the Conservative Party Peter Walker in 1065. But in March of 1066 de Gaulle pulled his troops out of neato a victory to American forces and devise widened further the breach with Britain. Yet Britons had little choice. The majority feeling their fate was irrevocably tied to the unity of Europe. So in a summer of optimism a new application to enter the European economic community was prepared and presented. And England awaited a winter of decision. And the winter of 1967 was cold and bitter and the worst on record. And in Brussels there met the members of the
Common Market to discuss the matter. The atmosphere was hopeful. And uncertain. Again. The shadow of De Gaulle crossed the proceedings as his French representative delayed the start of negotiations and won small. The outcome appeared to do. But it was not an outright no. And the foreign minister of France even signed an agreement indicating that the six member countries would not object to Britain's eventually entering the flame of hope. Snuffed once and rekindled and. Still. Flickered. Back home in London in Leicester in Carlisle The reaction of the people was steeled to disappointment. Some had opposed entering the European pact others were now losing interest. The first veto had
come as a shock had charted a dismal future had indeed defined a foreign policy that placed Britain at the mercy of other nations. It produced a curious nationalistic mood among the populace and Britain became even more an island unto herself. Remember that a lot of British people rap's majority if not chauvinist at least in shit like that 20 odd miles of water it makes an awful lot of wind. As Professor Hoggart suggests Britain as a part of Europe is only a geographical phenomenon in every other way. She stands alone. But can she stand alone. Should she identify with Europe or might she wish to turn to America. The last choice is doubtful indeed. Despite talk of a lengthy free trade area which might link the States Canada and the United Kingdom Britain will resist as long as she is able and
for good reason. For although it will mean a wider export market at world prices it will also mean she will become more and more a part of the United States. Most Britons therefore prefer to feel that because of its proximity its economic and cultural influence. Europe is the inevitable choice. Peter Walker For instance I think we will have much closer ties with the whole of Western Europe and I hope palliating route in that Europe. And as Walker explains Britain can serve a vital role as a mediator between Europe and the United States. And I have one of the things we will succeed in doing in that role of bringing about both economic and political unity between the United States and Europe. And one rather Britain complied to a greater extent than any other notion.
I think we have the job and indeed responsibility. My nature and tradition Britain has been. And no doubt will continue to be the type to Delilah and propounding and identity all her own. But nationalism is difficult and unfashionable. And the 20th century and television have undercut British complacency influences of change are everywhere and Britain's future as watery light seen through a foggy evening project some glimmering hope a possible Corson Daoud with the conviction of a people at war whose individual banner reads backing. Mike. From Indiana University Radio we who presented the lion and the eagle the final program of this special series The shadow of the lion. These documented essays about contemporary Britain were
written and produced by Le Roy Bennett and narrated by William Kinzer. Production assistants were John Hopkins and Tom Gray the engineer Jack Tracy. This is John to make reminding you that your comments are cordially invited. The shadow of the lion has been a series made possible by an Indiana University faculty research grant and is a presentation of Indiana University Radio. This program was distributed by the national educational radio network.
Series
The shadow of the lion
Episode
The Lion and the Eagle
Producing Organization
Indiana University
WFIU (Radio station : Bloomington, Ind.)
Contributing Organization
University of Maryland (College Park, Maryland)
AAPB ID
cpb-aacip/500-862bdd12
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Description
Series Description
For series info, see Item 3300. This prog.: The Lion and the Eagle. Anglo-American relations; areas of misunderstanding; the encroaching age of technology and mutual concerns; the strain and necessity of allied cooperation.
Date
1968-01-01
Topics
Social Issues
Media type
Sound
Duration
00:30:17
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Credits
Producing Organization: Indiana University
Producing Organization: WFIU (Radio station : Bloomington, Ind.)
AAPB Contributor Holdings
University of Maryland
Identifier: 68-14-13 (National Association of Educational Broadcasters)
Format: 1/4 inch audio tape
Duration: 00:30:03
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Citations
Chicago: “The shadow of the lion; The Lion and the Eagle,” 1968-01-01, University of Maryland, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC, accessed March 29, 2024, http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-500-862bdd12.
MLA: “The shadow of the lion; The Lion and the Eagle.” 1968-01-01. University of Maryland, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Web. March 29, 2024. <http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-500-862bdd12>.
APA: The shadow of the lion; The Lion and the Eagle. Boston, MA: University of Maryland, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Retrieved from http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-500-862bdd12