POLICIES & PRINCIPLES: Plunging Toward Union

Like a timid swimmer dabbling his toes in the sea, Britain has hesitated to work for full economic, political and military union with Western Europe. The familiar warmth of the imperial sun that never sets felt too cozy to make a plunge attractive.

Britain, by agreeing to the Brussels pact, had waded in nevertheless. Last week there were signs that Britain was ready to take a full plunge. Many Britons were ready to go a lot farther. Seventy-one M.P.s signed a resolution got up by Australian-born Labor M.P. Ronald W. G. Mackay (rhymes with black eye) calling for complete merger...