1950s Flashcards
What was the influence of McCarthyism in terms of Asia?
McCarthy emphasised the urgency of moving US policy away from a Eurocentric focus and towards policies with a more determined “Asia first” viewpoint. He took the view that containment had consolidated the Wests position in Europe against the threat of aggressively expansionist communism.
This prioritisation was particularly urgent in the view of the newly created communist monolithic state in China in 1949 and the alliance of mutual cooperation formed between China and the USSR. McCarthy feared that Trumans apparent indifference to the spread of communism in Asia may become an element of the USAs Asia policy. This anti-Communist rhetoric coincided with Trumans reluctance to support Jiang Jieshi in the face of growing communist power in the Chinese civil war. In addition McCarthy believed the Korean war would never have happened if Truman went against and fought against Mao in the war where Truman failed to recognise the importance of the threat of the continuing spread of communism in Asia. Truman tried to bring the nationalist and communist together instead of providing aid to the nationalists and preventing a communist take over. McCarthy therefore served to strengthen a shift towards a more clear Asia first policy.
what was the 1955 hallstein doctrine?
The name given to the West German 1955 policy that aimed at recognising the existence of East Germany and therefore not forming relations with any state, other than the Soviet Union that did recognise East Germany.
The Southeast Asia Collective defensive treaty (SEATO) 1954:
During September and October, Nikita Khruschev visited China as a sign of the reinforcement of Sino-Soviet links. The USSR provided significant economic aid and technological expertise to strengthen Chinas economy and national security. It was in response to what seemed to be close Sino-Soviet relations that John Foster Dulles brokered a defensive alliance based on Southeast Asia in September 1954. Therefore, SEATO was a collective defensive treaty.
Many of the members of SEATO were not Southeast Asian countries such as New Zealand, UK, USA, France, Philippines, Thailand, Pakistan, Australia. Some countries that were deemed in need of SEATOs protection were not members such as South Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Burma.
When was West Germany admitted to NATO as a member and what did this cause?
In May 1955, West Germany was admitted to NATO as a member. The USSR immediately recognised the soverienty of the GDR (East Germany) and created the Warsaw Pact. The FGRs entry into NATO underlines the commitment that the USA had to the concept of regional alliances designed to contain communism as effectively as possible and at the lowest possible cost to the USA.
When was the Warsaw Pact and what prompted it?
May 1955
The West decision to allow West Germany to rearm and join NATO prompted the USSR to further consolidate its relations with its satellite communist states of Eastern Europe. The Soviet Unions influence in Eastern Europe was significant and managed through the cooperation of individual communist states. This led to the creation of the Warsaw Pact.
What was the Warsaw Pact seen as by the USSR and who was it members?
Created in 1955. This was seen by the USSR as a means of legitimising its influence in Eastern Europe, just as NATO had legitimised US influence in Western Europe. Also was a respinse to the Wests decision to allow West Germany to rearm and join NATO which prompted the USSR to consolidate its relations with its satellite states. Its members contained: USSR, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, East Germany, Albania and Romania. It was presented as a non threatening alliance and a collective security system. The Warsaw Pact not only served as a military reinforcement of the USSRs satellite structure but it also consolidated the economic and political relationship between the USSR and its satellite states.
What did Eisenhowers new look policy involve?
Rollback- containment had simply created a stalemate. Dulles wanted to roll back communism and Moscow’s power as a part of a strategy to bring the cold war to a successful conclusion for the USA. Dulles was convinced that the security of US national interests and the guarantee of international peace were dependent upon reducing the dominance of Soviet communism globally- this approach became fundamental in Eisenhower’s new look policy.
Massive retaliation- Eisenhower and Dulles saw containment as a strategy that demanded, a global reaction to any communist expansion that might occur. It had necessitated a significant and expensive military intervention in Korea and under Eisenhower, nuclear weapons assumed much greater significance as the basis for a US national security strategy and the USA cold war stance. There was increased reliance on nuclear weapons, which was much less apparent during Trumans administration. This redefinition of the role and importance of nuclear weapons was presented as the most cost effective method of guaranteeing the USA security and the most effective method of actually winning the cold war. In addition to this, the NSC 162/2 report of October 1953 emphasised the view that the most effective way to deter aggression against Western Europe was for the USA to forcibly display its determination to use nuclear weapons and its nuclear superiority against any aggressor.
Brinkmanship- For Dulles, the USAs nuclear arsenal was not only a source of deterrence against Soviet attack but it was also a diplomatic tool. The USA could use its nuclear strength to attempt to force agreements from communist opponents up to the very point where a nuclear war may breakout (why its called brinkmanship). Dulles was convinced that the ability to reach a point of way without actually engaging the war was essential in effective foreign policy and diplomacy against a potential aggressor.
What did the NSC 162/2 report of 1953 emphasise?
The 1953 report emphasised the view that the most effective way to deter aggression against Western Europe was for the USA to forcibly display its determination to use nuclear weapons and its nuclear superiority against any aggressor.
When was Khrushchev’s secret speech?
25th Feb 1956. It started the process of destalinisation by reporting Stalin’s crimes. This was circulated around Europe and by June it had reached state department.
When the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union held?
In February 1956, the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union was held. It represented what appeared to be a fundamental shift in the USSRs thinking.
What were Khrushchev’s foreign policy imperatives?
Khruschev had very clear foreign policy imperatives:
-The Soviet Union must remain as the unchallenged leaders of the socialist community, both within Eastern Europe and in the face of ever growing competition from China and Mao.
-A firm grip was to be maintained over the Eastern Bloc Satellite states.
-Germany must be prevented from rearming and becoming a future threat to the Soviet Union
-The USSR must continue to expand its nuclear capability and thereby stay firmly implemented in the nuclear arms race between East and West.
-Spending on military security, including Soviet conventional forces in Eastern Europe has to be reduced.
-International tension has to be diffused and care taken to not unnecessarily provoke the USA.
-Post Stalinist Soviet leadership proposed to meet, and counter, the growing power of the USA through a policy of peaceful coexistence. It was not a move to end the cold war but instead was a strategy to consolidate Soviet International power and security by existing in a less volatile environment.
-Stalinist aggression had led to an escalation of expenses and government debt at a time where Khruschev wanted to concentrate Soviet resources on domestic development. This policy involved engaging the USA in diplomacy to diffuse tensions where possible and prevent direct confrontation. This mood of cooperation was seen initially over the future of Austria.
The Austrian State Treaty: 1955
By 1955, the USSR showed huge intentions of embarking on negotiations over the future of Austria and by May 1955, the four occupying powers had reached agreement in the form of the Austrian State Treaty. It led to the withdrawal of all occupational powers and the declaration that Austria would be a neutral state. This was in line with the USSRs willingness to accept both Finland and Yugoslavia as neutral states and therefore not be liable to be subjected to joining the Soviet sphere of influence. This agreement not only showed a serious intent of moving towards cooperation between the cold war power but it also removed a source of potential conflict; it also paved the way for the way for further cooperation between East and the West. Following this, the Western powers removed their occupational forces from West Germany. This consolidated the East-West position and was very much the essence of peaceful existence.
What made Khrushchev believe that there was a need for the Geneva Summit 1955?
Khruschev accepted the need for flexibility in Soviet policy. Although the Soviet Union was still closely involved in a nuclear arms race, there was a real incentive for Khruschev to slow the race down. Russia needed extensive conventional forces to ensure compliance among the Eastern Bloc States and to contribute to their security. Khruschev also needed to promote internal economic development in the Soviet Union. A less confrontational relationship with the West would significantly contribute to achieving these objectives and would protect the Soviet Unions national security and global superpower status at the same time. A further incentive which caused Khruschev to believe that the summit was necessary was the fact that in May 1955, the FRG (Federic Republic of Germany) was admitted into NATO and rearmament had began
What did the Geneva Summit discuss 1955 and what were its consequences?
The summit discussed: future of Germany and nuclear disarmament but no satisfactory outcome was reached.
The open skies proposal:
Eisenhower presented the open skies proposal which was an attempt to end the deadlock over the issues of the superpowers inspecting each other’s nuclear arsenals and thereby taking a step closer to disarmament. Eisenhower called for each side to provide details of military installations and to allow aerial reconnaissance. Khrushchev, however, rejected this proposal.
The future of Germany:
Eisenhower also proposed a reunified Germany, free elections and Germanys freedom to ensure its own security which effectively meant it would be part of NATO. Khruschev, however, would only contemplate reunification if a future Germany was demilitarised and neutral. He also refused to discuss the future of the Eastern bloc states. Out of the summit emerged an agreement on the principle of free elections but nothing was set up to make this a reality.
Overall, the summit value lay on the fact that it started a dialogue between the superpowers and seemed to mark a point of calm in international relations and it suggested that the foundations of peaceful coexistence were firmly in place. However, the crisis in Poland and Hungary placed the idea of peaceful coexistence under strain.
What happened in Poland 1956?
The death of Boleslaw Beirut, the polish communist, Khruschev nominated his successor Edward Ochab to implement destalinisation in Poland. After the secret speech, many Poles started to demand more political freedom and national soverienty. On 28th June 1956, workers were on strike against wage cuts and poor working
conditions. Specific economic grievances soon led to an anti-communist armed uprising. In October 1956, Wladyslaw Gomulka was elected as First Secretary of the Polish United Workers Party (the Polish Communist Party). Khrushchev met with Gomulka and threatened military intervention if Gomulka refused to cooperate. The standoff was resolved when Khruschev conceded that Gomulka could be appointed First Secretary if he agreed to not carry out reforms that could hinder communist reform. Poland would remain a member of the Warsaw Pact. Soviet troops already stationed in Poland were available to move in Warsaw but were not needed.
There were many impacts in Poland:
-many Poles supported Gomulka because, in their opinion, he had preserved a Polish path to socialism rather than conforming to Soviet view on how their satellites states should behave.
-Gomulka skilfully balanced the need for Polish security with the presence of Soviet troops in Poland, in order to placate Moscow. The USSR would protect Poland from any revanchism from West Germany.
- The Polish Rising showed that Moscow would allow its satellite a measure of national independence if the regimes were led by trustworthy men.
-Khrushchev’s instinct had been to use force once Gomulka , a nationalist leader, had taken control of the Polish Communist Party. Force was not used, primarily because China supported the Polish Communist Party. This was part of increasing role being played in international communism by China.
