Ever since the sun began to set on the British Empire, Britons have been acutely sensitive about their diminishing role in world affairs. Last week they were especially upset by a twist to the lion's tail administered by none other than former U.S. Secretary of State Dean Gooderham Acheson. In a speech at West Point, Acheson bluntly appraised Berlin, NATO, and the Common Market. But Britain drew his sharpest words.
"Great Britain has lost an empire and has not yet found a role," Acheson said.
"The attempt to play a separate power role apart...