1964-70 Foreign Policy (Chapter 8)

Question 1

For how many New Commonwealth states had independence been achieved by 1964? Which speech accelerated this process under the last government?

Answer 1

18, as a result of the ‘winds of change’ speech

Question 2

What did Wilson’s government think of the decolonisation policy of the Conservatives?

Answer 2

They wanted to expand and, hopefully, accelerate it.

Question 3

Where did the government want to reduce military responsiblites?

Answer 3

East of Suez.

Question 4

What was the opposition to the withdrawal East of Suez?

Answer 4

Many still viewed Britain as having an important world role.

Question 5

What was Harold Wilson’s opinion of the USA and NATO

Answer 5

He was pro-American and supported NATO. He wanted to ensure the USA’s commitment to defending Europe against the Communists.

Question 6

What happened in 1968 in Czechoslovakia?

Answer 6

Between January and August 1968, leader Alexander Dubcek introduced liberal reforms, increasing freedom of speech and movement, starting to decentralise the economy.

The Soviets responded by invading Czechslovakia to reinstate a hardline Communist regime.

Question 7

When did the Vietnam War start and end, and when did the Americans escalate the War?

Answer 7

The Vietnam War started in 1955 when the Communist North invaded the Anti-Communist South and the USA increased involvement in 1964. The USA withdrew in 1975 and the Viet Cong (Communist) took over.

Question 8

Why was the Vietnam War unpopular?

Answer 8

The war involved high casualties, with little end in sight and evidence of atrocities on both sides.

Question 9

What did Lyndon B. Johnson try to do (in terms of Vietnam) in 1964?

Answer 9

He tried to gain support from the US’ allies. Australia sent troops but Britain refused as it was domestically unpopular.

Question 10

What was the British response to Vietnam?

Answer 10

It was a balancing act, where Wilson wanted to maintain the Atlantic Alliance but not lose domestic support, especially with the Left, who fervently opposed the war.

Question 11

What was the risk for Wilson if he involved the UK in Vietnam?

Answer 11

Due to opposition from the public and within his own party, he risked losing political support if he sent troops.

Question 12

What was the risk for Wilson if he alienated the USA?

Answer 12

-The USA may become less committed to Europe’s defence.
-He needed the USA’s support to maintain the value of sterling and avoid devaluation.

Question 13

Who was annoyed by Wilson’s policy towards Vietnam?

Answer 13

-The USA, who wanted greater backing.
-Many Labour MPs who wanted condemnation of the war.

Question 14

What was the Labour Party’s attitude to the EEC in 1964?

Answer 14

They were ambivalent towards trying to join the EEC, unlike the Conservatives and were split on the issue.

Question 15

What was Gaitskell’s view on the EEC?

Answer 15

He fought passionately against the first application. It was based on a fear of joining being the first step towards a federal political union.

Question 16

Who, within the Labour Party, opposed the EEC?

Answer 16

Michael Foot, Barbara Castle and the trade unions were hostile. They saw the EEC as a capitalist club.

Question 17

Who, within the Labour Party, supported the EEC?

Answer 17

Roy Jenkins and George Brown.

Question 18

What was Wilson’s view on joining the EEC?

Answer 18

He was not concerned with the UK joining the EEC, wanting stronger links with the Commonwealth and Atlantic Alliance.

Question 19

What changed Wilson’s view on the EEC?

Answer 19

By 1966, he had become convinced of the economic arguments for joining the EEC.

Question 20

When did the Labour government apply for EEC membership?

Answer 20

In October 1966, Wilson’s cabinet backed a new EEC application.

Question 21

What were the prospects of the second EEC application succeeding? Why was this the case

Answer 21

They were low as:
-The British bid was viewed as half-hearted due to Labour’s doubts.
-De Gaulle still viewed the UK as not being committed to the EEC and was still French President.

This meant the Labour Left couldn’t be too vocal in opposition.

Question 22

What happened in 1967 after Labour’s EEC application?

Answer 22

Wilson and George Brown went to meet De Gaulle in Paris in January 1967, they thought the application went well.

They toured the five other EEC countries, to gain support.

In June 1967, Wilson returned to Paris. De Gaulle put him on the spot, demanding assurance that Britain would detach itself from the ‘special relationship. Wilson would and could not do this.

Question 23

What was the result of the British EEC application?

Answer 23

In November, De Gaulle used his veto against Britain’s entry, their application was thus rejected.

Question 24

What did the Labour government think of Britain’s military commitments in 1964?

Answer 24

They knew there would need to be reductions for economic reasons.

Question 25

What did Denis Healey do in terms of military commitments?

Answer 25

He started a process of spending cuts designed to bring the budget below £2 billion by 1970. His defence white paper in 1967 set a timetable for troop withdrawal from Aden, the Middle East, Malaysia and Singapore.

Question 26

Who is Denis Healey?

Answer 26

Born in 1917, he was a Labour MP from 1952 until he retired in 1992. He was minister of defence between 1964 and 70 and Chancellor between 1974 and 79. He was on the right of the Labour Party and deputy leader between 1980 and 83.

Question 27

What was the Labour government’s (1964-70) view on the nuclear deterrent?

Answer 27

Believing in the Atlantic Alliance and Britain’s continued world role, there was no debate about the nuclear deterrent, despite the expense.

Question 28

What was the Labour policy on nuclear deterrent?

Answer 28

They continued to deploy US Polaris missiles. In 1967, a commitment was made to upgrade the system.

Question 29

How did Labour policy on the role of Britain change in 1968?

Answer 29

In January 1968, drastic spending cuts were introduced by Roy Jenkins after the 1967 devaluation crisis. Withdrawal East of Suez accelerated rapidly.

Question 30

Where did Britain withdraw East of Suez after the 1967 devaluation crisis?

Answer 30

Troops were pulled out from the Arabian Gulf, Malaysia and Singapore by the end of 1971.

Question 31

What happened to the development of the new warplane TSR2 due to spending cuts in 1968?

Answer 31

Despite the wishes of Wilson and Healey, its development was abandoned as it was deemed too costly.

Question 32

Why did Macmillan choose Cape Town for the location of the ‘winds of change speech’?

Answer 32

It was the main city representing white minority regimes who thought they could resist reform, rather than giving majority rule.

Question 33

How was Macmillan’s ‘winds of change’ speech seen in South Africa?

Answer 33

It was seen as a challenge and a threat.

Question 34

What happened to the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland in 1963?

Answer 34

It was broken up into three separate entities.

Question 35

What happened in Southern Africa in 1964?

Answer 35

-In 1964, northern Rhodesia became independent, under majority rule, as Zambia and Nyasaland became independent as Malawi.

Southern Rhodesia’s majority black population hoped for a similar fate but the white minority refused.

Question 36

Who caused a political row over Southern Rhodesia?

Answer 36

Ian Smith, who had become Prime Minister.

Question 37

What did Ian Smith do in 1965?

Answer 37

He issued a Unilateral Declaration of Independence for Rhodesia, without accepting majority rule.

Question 38

How were Ian Smith’s actions in 1965 perceived by Wilson’s government?

Answer 38

They saw it as a direct challenged, but Wilson hoped for a solution in weeks rather than months, either through oil sanctions or a negotiated solution.

Question 39

What was Wilson and Smith’s first meeting?

Answer 39

They met for talks on board HMS Tiger off the coast of Gibraltar in December 1966. It seemed to make progress but Smith disavowed what he said when he returned to Rhodesia.

Question 40

Why was Wilson frustrated by the situation in Rhodesia throughout 1967?

Answer 40

Oil sanctions didn’t work as Portugal could supply oil through Mozambique and big oil companies often completely ignored the sanctions. South Africa also continued to trade with Rhodesia as they also had a white minority regime.

Question 41

What was Wilson and Smith’s second meeting?

Answer 41

Talks were held again on board HMS Fearless in October 1968, but Smith felt stronger by this time. Smith also felt he could rely on support from the Right of the Conservative Party for support and had to bide his time.

Question 42

What was the result of Wilson’s diplomacy in Rhodesia?

Answer 42

It got nowhere and the situation upset the Commonwealth and many on the Labour left wing, it also made Britain look weak.