In hindsight, however, and in view of the economical and political mayhem now emerging from what has probably been the most dishonestly and – in terms of lies and demagogy – most viciously launched and carried-out referendum in modern times, one can only admit that President de Gaulle was perfectly right.
After all, de Gaulle was not only motivated by some kind of historically inherited anti-British sentiment. He had also stayed for some years in Britain; he had gotten acquainted with British ways and attitudes; he had seen and heard the manifold expressions of British isolationism and protectionism; he had met the ill-disguised contempt of everything non-British; he had perceived in the British atmosphere itself all the hidden bitterness over the lost Empire.
Yes, de Gaulle was the leader of a previous European empire too, but through his policy in the Algerian issue, he clearly proved to have wisely realized that the era of European empires was over.
In any case, de Gaulle clearly saw what a British EEC-membership would – inevitably, and in the end – lead up to.
Today – just as if it were an attempt to steer the attention away from the present chaos – Tony Blair is at the centre of public embarrassment and outrage. And rightly so – his lies have cost hundreds of clever British men and women, in the blossom of their youth, their lives – for a cause that has proven to be a fraud.
But once history has pronounced its verdict on Mr Blair, Mr Cameron will for sure be in turn. Taking his nation as well as the rest of Europe hostage for a cause that was, in the end, all about his personal power-struggle, he also awaits the verdict of history, in one form or another.
And only history will prove whether the loss of the Trojan Horse was a “good riddance” or not – for Europe, for the world at large, for either of them, for none of them.
One thing seems to be sure, however, since one can feel it on an almost daily basis: Britain is slowly but surely going down the slope in terms of significance for both Europe and the rest of the world.