How the 'special relationship' comes first

A war that divides the world, two firm allies standing alone and a host of leaders around Europe more than willing to show their displeasure.

Iraq's not the first time that the USA and UK have found themselves feeling the diplomatic heat because London was one of the few countries to support Washington through the depths of the Vietnam War.

But secret documents released by the National Archives reveal how in 1969, just as today, both countries appeared to worry about how they could woo the capitals of Europe while still being seen as a diplomatic couple.

In 1968 Richard Nixon was elected US president and would go on to pull the US out of Vietnam before his resignation.

UK wanted US to support its case in Europe

Nixon's first overseas trip following his inauguration was a whistle-stop tour of Europe accompanied by his then National Security Advisor and later Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger.

The war in Vietnam was raging, protesters were thronging in the streets and Washington and London were determined to maintain their "special relationship".

But according to the Whitehall records, London believed it had a bit of a problem.

Firstly it wanted to ensure Nixon regarded the UK as the US's most important European ally. But secondly, it worried about what this would do for attempts to move closer to the European Economic Community as it then was.

'Assure the Americans'

Downing Street ordered the Charge d'Affaires in Washington to meet Mr Kissinger. His task was to "assure the Americans of our support" on Vietnam - but also bend Kissinger's arm on supporting the UK's case in Europe.

The secret Foreign Office memos reveal the Vietnam pledge pleased Kissinger - but he then admitted Washington's low standing in Paris, Bonn and Rome meant there was no chance the US could help out.

"Europeans were allergic to US pressure and he thought that efforts to help us could do more harm than good," reads the report to the Prime Minister.

"Kissinger said the US had not paid sufficient heed to the problems of Europe in recent years and that he thought that the new government would adopt a more 'humanistic' approach to these matters."

It will be important to persuade [Nixon] not to say anything damaging to us in other European capitals Downing Street memo

This concerned the Foreign Office which worried Mr Kissinger would push President Nixon into a more "even-handed attitude" towards the UK and the rest of Europe.

"On the other hand Kissinger was at pains throughout the evening to emphasise the importance he attached to what he himself described as the 'special relationship' with the UK," said the official.

"He added that in an off-the-record briefing with the press earlier in the day he had remarked that the USA had not got so many friends in the world that it could afford to lose the friendship of any - and that this was particularly the case of the UK."

Fend off de Gaulle

As the Nixon visit drew nearer, officials became increasingly convinced that Kissinger's expected attempts to woo French President General de Gaulle would backfire and the embassy in Washington continued the charm offensive.

"It will be important to persuade [Nixon] not to say anything damaging to us in other European capitals," Downing Street told the Foreign Office.

"You must persuade Kissinger to be more forthcoming in public and to encourage him to stand up to de Gaulle later this month."

By the time of the visit, London had worked out a strategy for Mr Wilson. Schmooze the new president - but try and steer him away from being too friendly to General de Gaulle lest he uses it to his advantage.

But then Downing Street discovered it held the trump card - Nixon had decided to visit Paris last - and the General was apparently very, very annoyed.

And so as the motorcade left Heathrow Airport with the PM and President Nixon sharing a car, the two set about becoming friends.

Within a few miles, record the documents, the two men were laughing at a previous diplomatic mishap - and had agreed their wives should take tea together.

The "Special Relationship" would last a few years yet - and Europe would have to wait.