Abstract

Many accounts of Anglo-American relations during the early 1970s stress the tensions with Washington that marked the premiership of Edward Heath, as Britain moved to become a member of the European Economic Community, with particular attention given to the Year of Europe dispute during 1973. Over the issue of the American war in Vietnam, however, Heath’s Conservative Government stood out from other West European states in offering a grateful Nixon administration wholehearted support, even in the face of domestic political criticism, when American air power was used during 1972 with an intensity and scope not seen before. Although prepared to offer firm diplomatic backing for American actions, British officials were still keen to avoid any direct involvement, repudiating the kind of role they had played in the settlement of the French Indochina War in 1954. By early 1973 the Nixon administration, influenced by Heath’s recent public support over Vietnam, looked upon the British Government as a firm ally, a context which helps in understanding the disappointment experienced over the subsequent Year of Europe dispute.

摘要

许多关于 1970 年代初期英美关系的报道都强调了与华盛顿的紧张关系，这标志着爱德华·希思 (Edward Heath) 在英国成为欧洲经济共同体的成员之际，尤其关注 1973 年的欧洲年争端。然而，在美国在越南的战争问题上，希思的保守党政府从其他西欧国家中脱颖而出，即使面对国内政治批评，当美国在 1972 年使用空中力量以前所未有的强度和范围。尽管准备为美国的行动提供坚定的外交支持，但英国官员仍然热衷于避免任何直接参与，