Originally published in 1961, this is an extremely valuable contribution to the understanding of contemporary international institutions and the working of the British system of government. It deals with the problems presented to British Government Departments by the emergence in the post-war world of a number of new international organisations which are concerned with European recovery and integration and with the development of the Atlantic Community of Nations.This book traces the British share in the creation of the Council of Europe, OEC, NATO, and WEU, and deals with the relations between Britain and the Coal and Steel Community, the Common Market and Euratom.Finally, the book assesses the impact of these activities upon the government at home and the extent to which the public appreciates the change in Britain's international status that has resulted from these developments.

1. The Setting 2. Britain and the Crisis of Europe 3. The Development of the Organisations 4. Britain and the Little Europe 5. The Foreign Office and British Representation Abroad 6. The Impact upon the Departments 7. Problems of Co-ordination 8. An Assessment of the Record