(!) 2:8 Foreign affairs - Content Flashcards
By 1964, how many Commonwealth states were independent?
18
The Wilson government wanted to continue what 3 things in terms of foreign affairs?
> More decolonisation and military withdrawal
Maintain Britain’s ‘special relationship’ with the United States
Maintain Britain’s relationship with Europe
What was Wilson’s attitude towards the relationship with the US?
He was pro-American and a keen supporter of the Atlantic Alliance. Especially since the Cold War was ongoing, Britain wanted to ensure that the US stayed committed to defending Europe.
However, what event put Britain and the US’s relationship under strain?
The Vietnam War
When the Vietnam War escalated in 1964, what did US President Johnson want from Britain?
Johnson wanted support and approval from the US’ allies, which included Britain.
Despite his good relationship with Johnson, why did Wilson resist any direct military involvement in the Vietnam War?
Participation in the Vietnam War was hugely unpopular among the British public, especially with the Left. So, Wilson risked losing political support. Also, Britain couldn’t really afford military involvement.
Why might Wilson have wanted to support the US in Vietnam?
Wilson needed the support from the US to support the value of sterling and avoid devaluation.
What conclusion did Wilson come to?
He gave moral support to the US in their efforts in Vietnam, but no military support.
How did the US react to Wilson’s decision?
It annoyed them, as they wanted greater backing from Britain.
How did Labour MPs and supporters react to Wilson’s decision?
It also annoyed them, as they wanted the Labour government to condemn the US
When the Labour government came into power in 1964, what was their general view of the EEC?
They were not at all committed to continuing the previous Conservative policy of seeking entry into the EEC.
Who was particularly hostile towards the EEC? (2)
> Those on the Labour Left (e.g. Michael Foot and Barbara Castle)
The trade unions
How did these people view the EEC?
They saw the EEC as a capitalist club that would prevent Britain from following socialist policies
However, some Labour members were Europhiles (enthusiastic about joining the EEC). Name 2.
> Roy Jenkins
George Brown
What was Wilson’s view on entering the EEC?
He had mixed feelings about the EEC; he was more concerned about relations with the US and the Commonwealth but could see the strength of the economic benefits of joining.
When did Wilson’s cabinet agree to a second application to join the EEC?
1966
However, why were Britain’s chances of being accepted slim?
De Gaulle was still President of France, and it was unlikely that he had changed his mind about Britain’s entry.
What happened when Wilson and Brown met de Gaulle in January 1967?
They had a seemingly good meeting. Wilson and Brown then toured the other five EEC countries, trying to gain support.
What happened when Wilson met with de Gaulle again in June 1967?
De Gaulle put Wilson on the spot; he demanded assurance that Britain would detach itself from its ‘special relationship’ with the US.
How did Wilson react to this and what was the consequence?
Wilson knew there was no way he could do this and so refused. Therefore, in November 1967, de Gaulle vetoed Britain’s entry into the EEC.
From the moment the Labour government entered power in 1964, why were they sure that there had to be a reduction in military commitments?
Britain could not afford to have their military in so many countries
Who was Wilson’s minister of defence?
Denis Healey
What did Healey’s process of military spending cuts entail?
He aimed to bring the defence budget below £2 billion by 1970
What was Healey’s 1967 white paper?
It set a timetable for troop withdrawals from the Middle East, Malaysia and Singapore
Why were these spending cuts not as drastic as some might have expected?
Wilson still believed in both the Atlantic Alliance and Britain continuing to have a world role
What 2 aspects of the military continued without being cut?
> Britain’s nuclear deterrent
Britain continued to deploy US Polaris missiles
However, why were there suddenly drastic military spending cuts in January 1968?
This was necessary after the 1967 devaluation crisis
Give 3 military spending cuts introduced by Chancellor Roy Jenkins.
> Withdrawal from East of Suez was rapidly accelerated
> Troops were to be removed from the Arabian Gulf, Malaysia and Singapore by the end of 1971
> The development of the new high-tech warplane, the TSR2, was abandoned
Why did Macmillan choose Cape Town to make his ‘winds of change’ speech?
He wanted to target and persuade the white minority regimes who thought they could resist reform.
However, how was Macmillan’s speech received throughout southern Africa?
The white minority regimes were not persuaded, and the speech was seen as a challenge and a threat.
In 1963, the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland…
broke up into three separate entities
Two of these entities became independent, but which one didn’t?
Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia hoped for independence and to leave the British Empire, but…
Britain made it clear that this could not happen until majority African rule was present, and they replaced the political domination by the white population.
What was the effect of Ian Smith becoming prime minister of Rhodesia?
He caused a political row
What major action did Smith take in 1965?
He issued a Unilateral Declaration of Independence for Rhodesia without accepting majority African rule
How did Wilson’s Labour government react to Smith’s actions?
They were angered by this and saw it as a direct challenge to British authority
How did Wilson believe he could solve this problem with Rhodesia?
He thought he could reach a solution quickly, either through oil sanctions (threatening penalties on oil for disobeying British requests) or by a negotiated solution.
When did Wilson meet Smith on board HMS Tiger for a face-to-face meeting?
December 1966
What was the result of this meeting?
The meeting seemed to make progress but Smith then disavowed everything he had said as soon as he got back home.
Why were Wilson’s oil sanctions against Rhodesia unsuccessful, frustrating Wilson?
> It was easy for Rhodesia to get supplies through the Portuguese colony of Mozambique
> The major oil companies often openly ignored the oil sanctions policy
> South Africa continued to trade with Rhodesia
When did Wilson and Smith have more talks on board HMS Fearless?
October 1968
Why was this talk unsuccessful?
Now, Smith felt stronger rather than weaker, and felt that he could rely on support from the Right of the Conservative Party, and all he had to do was wait for Britain to give in.
What was the overall impact of the Rhodesia problem on Britain and Wilson’s government?
Wilson’s diplomacy was wholly unsuccessful, and the results frustrated the Left of Labour. The situation as a whole made Britain look weak.
Content summary:
> Decolonisation
> Special relationship with the US and the Vietnam War
> Labour’s views towards the EEC
> Application to and rejection from the EEC
> Healey and military spending cuts
> Jenkins’ military spending cuts
> Winds of change speech
> Ian Smith’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence
> The Rhodesia problem
Ian Smith’s decision for the Unilateral Declaration of Independence showed…
a commitment to white-minority rule
After Britain’s oil sanctions on Rhodesia, other countries ignoring this and continuing to trade oil shows…
that other countries lacked respect for Britain’s foreign policy - no longer considered a world power
However, why might the handling of Rhodesia been positive for Britain?
It showed that Britain was changing and becoming more responsible by using diplomacy, a big change from Suez in 1956
What was the Biafra Crisis 1967?
> The Ibo people tried to create independent state in own right in Nigeria in place called Biafra; resulted in a bitter civil war
> Press and public opinion supported Biafra and Colonel Ojukwu
How did Wilson approach the Biafra Crisis?
He felt bound to support the official government of Nigeria and the idea of territorial integrity
What was the impact of this?
Like the Vietnam War, Wilson was seen to be on the wrong side of the press and the public opinion
Overall, what impact did African tensions have on Britain?
> Divided parties
> Made PMs and Britain look weak
> Split governments from press and public opinion
> Distracted parties from other events in Britain
> Continued to be a drain on money and effort
What was Wilson criticised for not doing enough of?
> Advancing the Atlantic Alliance
> Continuing Britain’s world role
When Wilson rejected De Gaulle’s request to distance from the US, it showed…
that the relationship with the US was more valuable than that of Europe
Wilson wanted the US to remain committed to resisting the communist threat in Europe…
especially in light of the USSR’s invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968
Which other countries were sending troops to help the US in the Vietnam War?
Australia
Britain was dependent on the US…
financially and militarily
How did Wilson react to Ian Smith’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence?
He declared this to be illegal
Failure to end white majority rule in Rhodesia…
disappointed many on the Labour Left
Sanctions remained and Rhodesia’s independence was not officially recognised until…
1979
