‘It's a shame; let's start without him!' On 5 June 1950, the French daily newspaper Le Franc-Tireur illustrates the British Labour Party's decision to reject the proposed European coal and steel pool as presented in the Schuman Plan.

On 6 June 1950, in anticipation of the forthcoming negotiations on the implementation of the Schuman Plan, the German daily newspaper Der Mittag emphasises the many reservations put forward by the British regarding the French plan.

On 13 June 1950, the Dutch daily newspaper Het Parool comments on the decision of the British Labour Party to reject the idea of European integration as presented in the Schuman Plan.

On 8 June 1950, the German weekly newspaper Die Zeit reports on the United Kingdom’s absence at the forthcoming negotiations launched in Paris by the Benelux countries, Italy, France and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) on the Schuman Plan.

On 15 June 1950, the French regional daily newspaper Le Républicain lorrain sets out the reasons for the British Government’s caution at the question of involvement in the European coal and steel pool.

On 7 June 1950, the German daily newspaper Hamburger Abendblatt describes the failure of discussions held between Paris and London that aimed to secure the United Kingdom’s participation in the negotiations on the Schuman Plan and expresses concern at the potential consequences of the UK’s refusal for the implementation of the French plan.

On 15 June 1950, the German magazine Die Gegenwart outlines the reasons for the United Kingdom’s absence from the negotiating table for the Schuman Plan and emphasises the importance of not excluding the British from the European unification process.

In his memoirs, Jacques Dumaine, Head of Protocol at the French Foreign Ministry, recalls how the authorities in the United Kingdom had, from the outset, been extremely cautious towards the Schuman Plan.

On 3 June 1950, the British Government publishes a communiqué setting out its position on the Schuman Declaration on the pooling of coal and steel output in Western Europe.

On 15 June 1950, the Steering Committee of the Socialist Party/French Section of the Workers’ International (SFIO) issues a press release announcing its decision to attend the International Socialist Conference the following day despite the position adopted by the British Labour Party on the Schuman Plan.