| Britain's role in worldThursday December 6, 1962 guardian.co.uk New York Mr Dean Acheson, former United States Secretary of State, asserted today that Britain's role as an independent Power was "about played out." He told a conference on American affairs at West Point Military Academy that Britain had lost an empire and had not found a role. He added: "Britain's attempt to play a separate power role - that is, a role apart from Europe, a role based on a 'special relationship' with the United States, a role based on being the head of a Commonwealth which has no political structure or unity or strength and enjoys a fragile and precarious economic relationship - this role is about played out. "Great Britain, attempting to work alone and to be a broker between the United States and Russia, has seemed to conduct a policy as weak as its military power." Mr Acheson is President Kennedy's special adviser on NATO affairs. Mr Acheson said that Britain's application for membership of the Common Market was a "decisive turning point." Should Britain join the Six, "another step forward of vast importance will have been taken." | ||||||||||