In the superb 1927 silent film "Napoleon", by
French director Abel Gance, there is a curious moment when the Corsican hero of
the film, portrayed by Albert Dieudonné, muses prophetically that one day
Europe will be united by neither cannon nor cavalry charge but by treaties and
pieces of paper.
Thirty years on from that film the Treaty of Rome came into
existence and what would become the EU was born. Now, just as Great Britain
proved to be the bane of Napoleon's career, "perfidious Albion"
remains persistently resistant to "ever closer union".
Every time the prospect of leaving comes up europhiles state
that should Britain exit the EU millions of British jobs would be put in
jeopardy and that trade with Europe would practically come to a standstill.
But how realistic is this?
Interestingly enough our old friend Napoleon provides a
great example from history as to what could happen.
Realising that he could never hope to invade Britain (thanks
to Lord Nelson) Napoleon decided to try and hit Britain where it really hurt by
strangling its trade.
In 1806 Napoleon introduced the "Continental
System" (sound vaguely familiar?) which shut the ports of mainland Europe
to British goods and included the impounding of British goods and the arrest of
British citizens abroad.
This bout of ultra-protectionism did hurt British industry
to some extent and yet the System was a disastrous failure for two reasons.
First of all the people of Europe and even Napoleon's most
trusted subordinates, such as Marshal Massena and even his own brother Louis
Bonaparte, continued to do and allow business with Britain, because they wanted
to make money and because there was high demand for quality British goods.
The blockade was so ineffective that when Napoleon's Grande
Armée invaded Russia in 1812, many of its soldiers were wearing boots from
Northamptonshire and coats made from Yorkshire cloth! Ironically French
officials not even supply their army without buying goods from their enemy
Britain.
Secondly the blockade rebounded on Napoleon when Great
Britain retaliated with its own Orders in Council, which was rather more
effective as a blockade against the continent. According to the renowned (but
now deceased) Napoleonic historian David Chandler, the British response made it
virtually impossible to get a cup of coffee in Paris.
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/469610/20130521/britain-leaves-will-eu-really-follow-failed.htm
French director Abel Gance, there is a curious moment when the Corsican hero of
the film, portrayed by Albert Dieudonné, muses prophetically that one day
Europe will be united by neither cannon nor cavalry charge but by treaties and
pieces of paper.
Thirty years on from that film the Treaty of Rome came into
existence and what would become the EU was born. Now, just as Great Britain
proved to be the bane of Napoleon's career, "perfidious Albion"
remains persistently resistant to "ever closer union".
Every time the prospect of leaving comes up europhiles state
that should Britain exit the EU millions of British jobs would be put in
jeopardy and that trade with Europe would practically come to a standstill.
But how realistic is this?
Interestingly enough our old friend Napoleon provides a
great example from history as to what could happen.
Realising that he could never hope to invade Britain (thanks
to Lord Nelson) Napoleon decided to try and hit Britain where it really hurt by
strangling its trade.
In 1806 Napoleon introduced the "Continental
System" (sound vaguely familiar?) which shut the ports of mainland Europe
to British goods and included the impounding of British goods and the arrest of
British citizens abroad.
This bout of ultra-protectionism did hurt British industry
to some extent and yet the System was a disastrous failure for two reasons.
First of all the people of Europe and even Napoleon's most
trusted subordinates, such as Marshal Massena and even his own brother Louis
Bonaparte, continued to do and allow business with Britain, because they wanted
to make money and because there was high demand for quality British goods.
The blockade was so ineffective that when Napoleon's Grande
Armée invaded Russia in 1812, many of its soldiers were wearing boots from
Northamptonshire and coats made from Yorkshire cloth! Ironically French
officials not even supply their army without buying goods from their enemy
Britain.
Secondly the blockade rebounded on Napoleon when Great
Britain retaliated with its own Orders in Council, which was rather more
effective as a blockade against the continent. According to the renowned (but
now deceased) Napoleonic historian David Chandler, the British response made it
virtually impossible to get a cup of coffee in Paris.
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/469610/20130521/britain-leaves-will-eu-really-follow-failed.htm
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