Historical Dictionary of Anglo‐American Relations

People with short memories might believe that Britain and America are destined to be friends: allies in two world wars, NATO partners, cultural links and so on. But it was never that simple. The picture of British‐American amity ignores the tensions between the two countries. They surfaced over a number of issues, notably Britain's imperial position, which America never liked, and America's frustration over Britain's refusal to cast in its lot with western Europe. There have also been critical moments when the disagreements were very sharp indeed: the destroyers‐for‐bases deal in 1940, the international loan of 1946, Suez in 1956,...