Documentary Analysis of Harold Macmillan’s “winds of Change” Speech

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The document, taken from The Penguin Book of Twentieth-Century Speeches, is extracts from ‘The Winds of Change’; a famous speech by then Prime Minister Harold Macmillan to the parliament of South Africa on the 3 February, 1960. In the speech, Macmillan addresses the issue of African nationalism and independence from colonial rule.

By 1960, Britain’s previously unrivalled empire was beginning to deteriorate and with it to too was her position in the world. The first colonies were lost in 1947; political stability in India and guerrilla insurgents in Palestine meant that Britain could no longer retain control. The loss of Ghana and Malaya followed a decade later in 1957; the year Harold Macmillan led the conservatives to victory and became Prime Minister. Turner notes that Britain still had a “fairly large and very turbulent colonial empire” at this time yet she had faced difficulties which meant her position was in jeopardy.

The Suez Crisis of 1956 had shown significant weaknesses in the “special relationship” between the U.S.A and Britain, some arguing this a sign of the end for the British Empire. Britain and France agreed a plan in secret with Israel to seize control of the Suez Canal, however when this was put in to place America turned against Britain and condemned her actions halting the operation within a week of its deployment. The lack of support from the American government as well as the secrecy in which Britain acted was a visible sign to not only Britain, but to the rest of the world, that her power was beginning to fail ; Britain was indeed just a ‘junior partner’ to the United States, not an equal.

As successor to Eden, Macmillan was eager to rebuild the special relationship with the United States; he believed the alliance would help “Britain preserve some international influence”. America, in turn, was against Britain’s imperial rule and strongly urged Britain to join Europe rather than keep her empire. The country’s power over Britain became something of a debate; while Britain saw it to their advantage, it led to two applications by Britain to join the EEC (European Economic Community) to be refused in 1963 and 1967 as French President De Gaulle believed Britain to be a “Trojan horse” for the U.S.A. Although this was obviously long after the ‘Winds of Change’ speech, it is a sure sign of the power some felt America had over Britain and shows the appearance of the special relationship from outside countries.