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In English, French Paper Urges Britain to Heed Waterloo and Stay in E.U. In English, French Paper Urges Britain to Heed Waterloo and Stay in E.U.
(about 7 hours later)
PARIS — The French, it seems safe to say, have had a hard time getting over Waterloo. PARIS — The French, it seems safe to say, have had a hard time getting over Waterloo.
Their defeat on the battlefield 200 years ago on June 18, at the hands of the British Duke of Wellington, ended Napoleon’s empire. The humiliation is so lasting that even as the British royal family attended commemorations in what is today Belgium, President François Hollande of France “found more important things to do,” one of France’s leading newspapers, Le Monde, noted in an editorial. Their defeat on the battlefield 200 years ago on June 18, at the hands of the Duke of Wellington, ended Napoleon’s empire. The humiliation is so lasting that even as the British royal family attended commemorations in what is today Belgium, President François Hollande of France “found more important things to do,” one of France’s leading newspapers, Le Monde, noted in an editorial.
For its part, however, Le Monde used the occasion — and the editorial — to sift some important lessons from what it could only bring itself to call “a glorious defeat” at Waterloo, and to issue an unusual appeal. For its part, however, Le Monde used the occasion, and the editorial, to sift some important lessons from what it could only bring itself to call “a glorious defeat” at Waterloo, and to issue an unusual appeal.
Written in English, the editorial, published Thursday afternoon, amounted to a letter to the former adversary and current partner in the European Union, — that troubled, continuing experiment in Continentwide comity that the British have been threatening to leave, a prospect that has come to be known as the British exit, or Brexit. Written in English, the editorial, published Thursday afternoon, amounted to a letter to France’s former adversary and current partner in the European Union — that troubled, continuing experiment in continentwide comity that the British have threatened to leave, raising the specter of what has come to be known as the British exit, or Brexit.
Don’t do it, Le Monde’s editorial writers said.Don’t do it, Le Monde’s editorial writers said.
“Defeat does not come easily to a proud nation,” Le Monde wrote. But it also noted that as painful as the defeat was, “Waterloo marked the beginning of an unprecedented era of peace, stability and development in Europe.” “Defeat does not come easily to a proud nation,” they wrote. But the editorial also noted that as painful as the defeat was, “Waterloo marked the beginning of an unprecedented era of peace, stability and development in Europe.”
And that is not all. “Another spectacular achievement of Waterloo: two centuries of Anglo-French peace,” it said. “Never again have we been at war with each other, except on rugby fields.” And that is not all. “Another spectacular achievement of Waterloo: two centuries of Anglo-French peace,” the editorial said. “Never again have we been at war with each other, except on rugby fields.”
The editorial struck an exceptional tone at a moment when the European Union faces a full slate of problems that are chafing at its unity — economic doldrums, a surge in migration, racial and religious tension, the threat of terrorism, and the increasingly urgent possibility that Greece could leave the eurozone, too, unless a deal is reached soon to end its debt crisis. The editorial struck an exceptional tone at a moment when the European Union faces a full slate of problems that are chafing at its unity — economic doldrums, a surge in migration, racial and religious tension, the threat of terrorism and the increasingly urgent possibility that Greece could leave the eurozone, too, unless a deal is reached soon to end its debt crisis.
But the prospect of an exit from the European Union by Britain, a core European ally, is especially worrying to many on a continent where British engagement has been an essential ingredient of peace and prosperity for centuries.But the prospect of an exit from the European Union by Britain, a core European ally, is especially worrying to many on a continent where British engagement has been an essential ingredient of peace and prosperity for centuries.
Sylvie Kauffmann, the editorial director of Le Monde, said that the newspaper was trying to “play on British humor” and have some fun by writing in English but that the subject was serious. Sylvie Kauffmann, editorial director of Le Monde, said while the newspaper was trying to “play on British humor” and have some fun by writing in English, the subject was serious.
“We are against this absurd possibility of a Brexit and we see it as a threat for France and for Europe,” Ms. Kauffmann said.“We are against this absurd possibility of a Brexit and we see it as a threat for France and for Europe,” Ms. Kauffmann said.
“Here at Le Monde we see Great Britain separating themselves from the E.U. and UKIP’s rising popularity as affecting us as much as euroskepticism in France or the National Front’s popularity,” she said, referring to the euroskeptic U.K. Independence Party and the far-right party of Marine Le Pen in France, which has won increasing influence in local elections.“Here at Le Monde we see Great Britain separating themselves from the E.U. and UKIP’s rising popularity as affecting us as much as euroskepticism in France or the National Front’s popularity,” she said, referring to the euroskeptic U.K. Independence Party and the far-right party of Marine Le Pen in France, which has won increasing influence in local elections.
The editorial endeavored to use Anglo-French history to make its case urging Britain not to be held hostage by Nigel Farage, the leader of UKIP, which has rallied conservative sentiment against remaining in the European Union. The editorial endeavored to use Anglo-French history in making its case urging Britain that it not be held hostage by Nigel Farage, the leader of UKIP, which has rallied conservative sentiment against remaining in the European Union.
“On this bicentenary, we feel entitled to call on our British allies to resist the familiar temptation of splendid isolation,” the editorial said. “The country which cornered Napoleon cannot succumb to Nigel Farage.”“On this bicentenary, we feel entitled to call on our British allies to resist the familiar temptation of splendid isolation,” the editorial said. “The country which cornered Napoleon cannot succumb to Nigel Farage.”
“And to make sure the message is really heard, we have gone as far as to convey it in English,” Le Monde wrote. “Messieurs les Anglais, don’t let the sirens of a fake independence pull you away from the Continent,” the editorial said. “Just as in 1815, your future is in Europe.”“And to make sure the message is really heard, we have gone as far as to convey it in English,” Le Monde wrote. “Messieurs les Anglais, don’t let the sirens of a fake independence pull you away from the Continent,” the editorial said. “Just as in 1815, your future is in Europe.”