Britain: Do we know our place?

Tony Blair said the US must 'listen back'

By Paul Reynolds BBC News Online world affairs correspondent

Tony Blair, in a speech on British foreign policy, has made what might be called a "declaration of independence" from the United States.

The Prime Minister, who has been lampooned as George Bush's poodle, told the first ever mass meeting of British ambassadors gathered after their Christmas break in London that Britain should remain the "closest ally" of the United States.

But in return, he went on, the United States should "listen back", especially over the Middle East, global poverty, the environment and the United Nations.

Mr Blair was tackling the seemingly eternal question about British foreign policy, encapsulated in the quote (used of course during the conclave of envoys) from the former US Secretary of State Dean Acheson: "Britain had lost an empire and had failed to find a role".

'Quiet pride'

Both Tony Blair and the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, were confident that they could now answer Mr Acheson.

I warn people: it is only a matter of time before terrorists get hold of it ( a nuclear capability)

Tony Blair

Mr Straw concluded that Britain had indeed found a role: "I believe there is a quiet pride in a Britain remade, in a country more comfortable within its skin than it has been for many decades".

Tony Blair, addressing the 150 or so envoys (among whom incidentally there were only a handful of women), agreed: "I have no doubt what our place is and how we should use it".

They did not speak as Mrs Thatcher would have done once.

She would have thundered about Britain standing side by side with the United States under the banner of freedom. The word "Europe" curled her lips.

She often referred to her fellow European leaders contemptuously as "they".

'Centre of Europe'

The message from the current British government is that Britain should not be too ambitious but nor should it be too modest.

Mr Blair listed the "principles of foreign policy": Among them:

Even now, the UK stands aside from the single currency and tries to straddle the Atlantic

Britain should stay close to the United States while trying to "broaden their agenda".

Britain must stay with the fight against terrorism and combat rogue states. Mr Blair stated: "I warn people: It is only a matter of time before terrorists get hold of it ( a nuclear capability)."

Britain "must be at the centre of Europe". Note that the word "heart" is no longer used, as that carries too much baggage.

Britain should "engage with countries who are bound to be ever greater economic and political powers" like Russia, China and India.

We must reach out to the Muslim world.

Promote democracy

Jack Straw, too, had his little list. He listed British priorities:

Minimise the threat from weapons of mass destruction and terrorism, including extremism in the Islamic world.

Promote democracy and good governance.

Bolster the security of British and global energy supplies. (Those opposed to a war in Iraq pricked up their ears at this one).

Build a strong European Union in a secure neighbourhood.

National interests

The problem with such speeches is that they tend to dwell on the immediate crises.

Very few of them actually predict the next one.

But they do indicate perhaps that what is emerging as a long-term British foreign policy is one based very much on national interests, which will range across a number of different agendas but which will not be tied to any of them.

Is this an inability to decide or just common sense?

Probably a bit of both. If it lacks the vision of a similar French speech, it has the virtue of being down to earth.

Small wars

Since World War II, the British adjustment to a post-imperial role has at times been slow and painful.

It took a long time, and not a few small wars, for the empire to be wound up.

Even in the fifties, for example, a British minister said that Cyprus could never become independent.

Cyprus will shortly join the European Union.

Britain was slow to realize how important the rapprochement between France and Germany was and refused to join the Common Market when it was founded.

When it did join, its terms were far from satisfactory.

The Common fishing policy opening waters to all members was, for example, suddenly dreamed up just before British entry.

Even now, the UK stands aside from the single currency and tries to straddle the Atlantic with policies which are designed to be both pro-American and pro-European.

It does not sound as if Britain has quite settled down.