‘One shotgun wedding is enough, but two at once …’ The British cartoonist, Michael Cummings, portrays the dilemma facing the United Kingdom: remain faithful to the Commonwealth or join the European Economic Community.

On 26 June 1957, the London weekly political magazine The New Statesman and Nation considers the nature of the United Kingdom’s relations with the countries of the Commonwealth and wonders about the future thereof.

On 31 July 1957, the German daily newspaper Deutsche Zeitung analyses the consequences for Europe in the throes of integration of the preferential relations between the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

In London on 9 March 1961, British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan and Indian Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, discuss the future of the Commonwealth.

'Anything to declare, gentlemen?' customs officers Konrad Adenauer, German Chancellor, and Charles de Gaulle, French President, ask Harold Macmillan, British Prime Minister, as the latter attempts to smuggle the Commonwealth into the common market despite the warning: 'Common market: imports of special favours for the Commonwealth and agricultural protectionism forbidden.'

On 6 July 1961, the United Kingdom and New Zealand issue a joint statement giving an outline of the discussions between Duncan Sandys, British Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, and his New Zealand counterparts, on the implications of the United Kingdom’s possible membership of the European Communities.

On 11 July 1961, Lord Perth, British Minister for Colonial Affairs, and political representatives of the West Indies issued a joint statement on discussions concerning the economic implications for the Commonwealth of the United Kingdom’s accession to the European Economic Community.

On 11 July 1961, Duncan Sandys, British Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, visits Australia for discussions on the economic implications of the United Kingdom’s accession to the European Economic Community.

Whilst the Commonwealth Prime Ministers meet in London to consider the problems posed by the entry of the United Kingdom into the Common Market, outside Marlborough House, London, British citizens protest against UK accession to the European Communities.

On 31 July 1961, Harold Macmillan, British Prime Minister, announces to the House of Commons his Government’s decision formally to apply for the accession of the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community (EEC).

On 2 August 1961, in the first of a series of articles about the difficult negotiations for the United Kingdom’s accession to the European Communities, the French daily newspaper Le Monde analyses the nature and the significance of economic relations between London and the Commonwealth.

On 3 August 1961, commenting on the prospect of the United Kingdom’s possible accession to the European Communities, the French daily newspaper Le Monde analyses the situation of the British agricultural market, taking into account the key factors of the Commonwealth, the consumer, the farmer and the balance of payments.

On 9 August 1961, British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sends a letter to Ludwig Erhard, President-in-Office of the Council of Ministers of the European Community, informing him of the British Government's desire to begin negotiations on the United Kingdom's accession to the European Communities.

On 6 September 1961, in its coverage of the United Kingdom's application for accession to the European Communities, the German daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung emphasises the significance of economic relations between the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth countries.

On 27 September 1961, Ludwig Erhard, President-in-Office of the Council, writes to British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, to inform him of the Council's agreement to the United Kingdom's request for accession to the European Communities.

On 10 October 1961, in Paris, Edward Heath, Lord Privy Seal and Head of the British Delegation, outlines to the representatives of the Six the United Kingdom’s position during the negotiations on accession to the European Communities.

‘Towards new shores’. In 1961, the emancipation of the Commonwealth countries and the end of the British Empire are conditions for the United Kingdom’s accession to the European Economic Community (EEC). On 28 October 1961, as the British Empire ‘sinks’, German cartoonist Manfred Oesterle emphasises the efforts of Ludwig Erhard, Federal Minister for the Economy, to rescue British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan in a lifeboat and bring him aboard the ship ‘Europe’, while French President de Gaulle casually observes the rescue operation without offering to help. The French President is opposed to the United Kingdom’s application for accession, citing the incompatibility between the economic interests of the continent and the United Kingdom.

On 14 November 1961, British cartoonist David Low illustrates the difficult choice facing the United Kingdom: whether to remain faithful to the historical links uniting it to the Commonwealth countries or to start on the road to accession to the European Economic Community.

'Macmillan: "You don't mind, do you, if my aunt watches over me?"' For British Prime Minister Harold Wilson, the issue of the Commonwealth carries great importance in the 1961 negotiations on the United Kingdom's accession to the European Economic Community (EEC).

On 20 January 1962, in its coverage of the negotiations on the United Kingdom's accession to the European common market, the French daily newspaper Le Monde looks at the contentious issue of agricultural products from the Commonwealth

On 3 February 1962, Sir Michael Tandy, British Ambassador to Luxembourg, delivers to the Luxembourger Christian Calmes, Secretary-General of the Special Council of Ministers of the ECSC, Britain’s application for accession to the European Coal and Steel Community.

On 2 March 1962, British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sends a letter to the President of the ECSC Special Council of Ministers in which he confirms the United Kingdom's desire to open diplomatic negotiations with a view to acceding to the Community.

On 31 March 1962, addressing the issue of the United Kingdom’s accession to the European Communities, the cartoonist, William Papas, emphasises the weight and the significance of the question of the Commonwealth in the forthcoming negotiations to be conducted by the British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan.

During the negotiations on the United Kingdom’s accession to the EEC, one point proves to be particularly sensitive: future trade with the Commonwealth countries. The study carried out by a Council of Europe working party highlights the difficulties encountered and sets out possible solutions.

‘Heads you lose, tails you lose.' On 22 April 1962, the cartoonist Abu takes the view that the Commonwealth countries will suffer, both politically and economically, if the United Kingdom accedes to the European Economic Community (EEC).

‘Oh no, darling, we're just good friends.' On 10 June 1962, in the British left-wing Sunday newspaper The Observer, in the light of increasing concerns in some Commonwealth countries, the cartoonist Abu illustrates the ambiguous relationship between the United Kingdom and the new Europe (on the left, Harold Macmillan; on the right, Robert Menzies).

On 17 July 1962, Edward Heath, Lord Privy Seal and head of the British delegation, outlines to the representatives of the Six in Luxembourg the position taken by the United Kingdom in the negotiations for accession to the European Communities.

On 19 July 1962, as negotiations are held for British accession to the Common Market, Duncan Sandys, British Secretary of State for the Colonies, informs the Commonwealth countries about the discussions on future relations between the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and the European Communities.

On 30 July 1962, the British cartoonist, Michael Cummings, illustrates the difficulties facing Edward Heath, Lord Privy Seal and Head of the British Delegation at the negotiations for the United Kingdom’s accession to the European Economic Community (EEC), and refers to the uncompromising position taken by General de Gaulle, President of the French Republic, on the issue of the Commonwealth.

‘The Euro Club-Britannia: "I'll join if my kids can join too!"' In 1962, Opland, Dutch cartoonist, shows that the United Kingdom's membership of the European Communities also raises the issue of the special relations that the country has with members of the Commonwealth.

On 7 August 1962, the day after the meeting, in Brussels, of the representatives of the United Kingdom and of the governments of the Six, Edward Heath, Lord Privy Seal, draws up a report on the progress of the negotiations on British accession to the European Communities.

On 10 August 1962, referring to the United Kingdom’s negotiations on accession to the European Communities, the British cartoonist, Michael Cummings, illustrates the opposition of General de Gaulle, President of the French Republic, to the British requests for derogations and exceptions for products from the Commonwealth.

On 14 August 1962, Jean Monnet, President of the Action Committee for the United States of Europe, sends a letter to J. G. van Wouwe, leader of the Netherlands Trade Union Federation, in which he expresses his regret at the interruption of the negotiations for the United Kingdom’s accession to the European Economic Community (EEC).

In a circular dated 15 August 1962, Duncan Sandys, British Secretary of State for the Colonies, reviews the progress in the negotiations for British accession to the European Communities. He particularly focuses on the issues related to the Commonwealth.

‘Lining up for dinner! Let’s go, Daddy — we don’t want any of this mess!’ On 25 August 1962, the German cartoonist, Siegl, considers the reluctance of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth towards possible British accession to the European Economic Community (EEC).

On 11 September 1962, the British cartoonist, David Low, illustrates the influence and clout of the Commonwealth in the negotiations on the United Kingdom’s accession to the European Economic Community (on the right is Harold Macmillan, British Prime Minister).

On 12 September 1962, Arnaud Wapler, French chargé d'affaires in London, sends to Maurice Couve de Murville, French Foreign Minister, an account of the conference of Commonwealth Prime Ministers, dedicated, in particular, to the United Kingdom’s plans for accession to the EEC.

On 19 September 1962, following their meeting in London, the prime ministers of the member countries of the Commonwealth issue a communiqué in which they reaffirm their fears concerning the accession of the United Kingdom to the European Communities.

On 20 September 1962, following the Conference of Commonwealth Prime Ministers held in London, Harold Macmillan, British Prime Minister, delivers an address on the nature and the future of relations between the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and the European Communities.

On 20 September 1962, the Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera explains the position of the Commonwealth countries towards the United Kingdom's possible accession to the European Communities.

On 29 September 1962, the National Executive Committee of the British Labour Party publishes its demands with regard to the conditions for British membership of the European Economic Community (EEC).

‘Two souls, alas! reside within my breast …’ In September 1962, referring to the dilemma of Goethe’s Faust, the cartoonist Fritz Behrendt shows Harold Macmillan, British Prime Minister, hesitating between the United Kingdom’s special relationship with the Commonwealth and the country’s accession to the European Common Market.

On 3 October 1962, Hugh Gaitskell, leader of the Labour Party, delivers a speech at the annual Labour Party Conference in which he lists the reasons for which opposes the United Kingdom's accession to the European Economic Community (EEC).

Following the meeting held in Brussels from 25 to 27 October 1962 between representatives of the United Kingdom and the governments of the Six, Edward Heath, Lord Privy Seal, draws up a report on the progress in the negotiations for British accession to the European Communities.

'Mr Macmillan, but not alone'. In 1962, the United Kingdom, accompanied by the rest of the large Commonwealth family, applies for membership of the European Economic Community.

In his Memoirs, Lord Home, British Foreign Minister from 1960 to 1963, recalls the state of relations between Harold Macmillan and Charles de Gaulle at the time of the Polaris affair in 1962.

At a press conference held on 14 January 1963 at the Élysée Palace, French President Charles de Gaulle opposes the United Kingdom’s accession to the Common Market.

On 14 January 1963, General de Gaulle holds a press conference at the Elysée Palace, during which he declares his opposition to the United Kingdom's accession to the European Common Market.

‘French lessons for industrialised nations. Couve de Murville: “Look, they belong to Europe, but you don’t!”’ In 1963, Opland, Dutch cartoonist, illustrates France’s opposition to the United Kingdom joining the European Communities.