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.

On 8 November 1961, the British delegation led by Edward Heath, Lord Privy Seal, meets representatives of the European Economic Community (EEC) in Brussels in order to negotiate terms for the United Kingdom's accession to the European Communities.

On 24, 25 and 26 November 1961, General de Gaulle makes an official visit to the United Kingdom during which he meets British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, to discuss, in particular, the United Kingdom's application for accession to 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.

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 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 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.

‘No!' In 1962, the cartoonist Hans Geisen illustrates the astonishment of the British people at the terms of the United Kingdom's accession to the European Economic Community (EEC).

On 21 November 1962, in view of the demands made by General de Gaulle, President of the French Republic, the British cartoonist, Michael Cummings, takes an ironic look at the optimism of Edward Heath, Lord Privy Seal and Head of the British Delegation at the negotiations for the United Kingdom’s accession to the European Communities.

‘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 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).

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).

On 2 November 1962, the British cartoonist, Michael Cummings, illustrates the uncomfortable position of Harold Macmillan, British Prime Minister, who is caught between pressure from the United States for the United Kingdom to accede to the European Communities and the warnings of Hugh Gaitskell, British Labour Party Leader, who is opposed to accession.

In January 1963, Tony Benn, a member of the British Labour Party, speaks publicly about the risks that the United Kingdom would run should it be too hasty in joining the European common market.

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.

Der deutsche Bundeskanzler Konrad Adenauer erinnert sich an die Unterredung mit dem französischen Staatspräsidenten Charles de Gaulle über den Beitritt Großbritanniens zur Europäischen Gemeinschaft bei seinem Staatsbesuch in Frankreich vom 2. bis 8. Juli 1962.

In this interview, Georges Berthoin, Head of the Delegation of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), then of the Commission of the European Communities to the United Kingdom until 1973, describes the active initiatives of the British Council of the European Movement from the late 1940s onwards.

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.

‘EEC — British bulky parcels: “Perhaps you’d be kind enough to make your service hatch bigger, gentlemen!” (British reservations).’ In October 1961, the cartoonist Heko predicts lengthy and arduous accession negotiations between the United Kingdom and the Member States of the European Economic Community (EEC).

On 11 October 1961, the German daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung focuses on the difficulties which threaten to arise during diplomatic negotiations on the United Kingdom's application for accession to the European common market.

'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).

‘Visiting Bonn. “Come on, Mac, you can still get in!”’ On 10 January 1962, as he meets a disappointed Harold Macmillan, the German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer encourages the United Kingdom in its application for accession to 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.

According to this cartoon by Jüsp published on 30 November 1962, British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan's new year wish is, ironically, the most European of all!

On 9 May 1962, the Belgian daily newspaper Le Soir analyses the blueprint for European integration put forward by General de Gaulle, President of France, with particular regard to the possible accession of the United Kingdom to the European Communities.

On 9 February 1963, the Belgian daily newspaper La Dernière Heure publishes a note sent on 29 August 1960 by Alain Peyrefitte, Gaullist Member of Parliament, to Michel Debré, French Prime Minister, concerning the way in which negotiations should be carried out with the United Kingdom on the British application for accession to the European Communities.

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.

‘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 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.

'..the only room left, she said! Maybe we should never have come...' On 5 November 1962, the British cartoonist, Cummings, portrays the concerns felt by Harold Macmillan, the British Prime Minister, about the exigent attitude and the lack of goodwill manifested by General de Gaulle regarding the United Kingdom's application for accession to the European common market.

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 4 August 1961, the French daily newspaper Le Monde comments on the fate of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) if the United Kingdom accedes to the European Communities.

On 7 December 1961, in the Common Market Arcade, the United Kingdom sells off her Empire and flaunts her charms in an attempt to seduce the senior European officials responsible for processing her application for accession to the European Economic Community (EEC).

On 26 July 1962, the French daily newspaper Le Monde reports on the difficulties encountered during the negotiations for the United Kingdom’s accession to the European Economic Community (EEC).

On 11 August 1962, the Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera considers the implications of the United Kingdom's accession to the European Common Market and describes the complexity of the diplomatic negotiations.

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 4 October 1962, commenting on the heated debates at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton, the Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera gives an account of the British Labour Party's opposition to the European Economic Community (EEC).

‘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.

‘The difficult ascent of Mount Gaulle.’ On 9 August 1962, the cartoonist, Fritz Behrendt, illustrates the difficulties faced by the British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, during the United Kingdom’s negotiations on accession to the European Communities.

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.

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).