4.16 Foreign affairs, 1979-87

Question 1

When did the Foreign Secretary, Lord Carrington, and Defence Secretary, John Nott, approve the withdrawal of HMS Endurance?

Answer 1

1981 - leaving the South Atlantic without any British naval presence

Question 2

When did Argentinian forces invade the Falkland Islands?

Answer 2

April 1982

Question 3

what was the effect of Thatcher’s immediate announcement that a naval task force would be sent?

Answer 3

Sent her previously unpopular government soaring in the opinion polls

Question 4

When was the Battleship … sunk?

Answer 4

General Belgrano - sank on 2 May 1982

Question 5

When did Argentinian forces surrender?

Answer 5

14 June 1982

Question 6

What did Thatcher give permission for the US to do in 1986?

Answer 6

use British airbases to bomb Libya, despite it being an unpopular decision in Britain

Question 7

What US decision showed the differences between Thatcher and Reagan?

Answer 7

In 1983, the US invaded Grenada after a communist coup, against the advice of Thatcher

Question 8

By the late 1970s + Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, what seemed to be happening?

Answer 8

West seemed to be losing the Cold War + Afghanistan a dangerous threat to Western interests

Question 9

What really happened in Cold War due to Afghanistan?

Answer 9

The invasion of Afghanistan was disastrous for the USSR, bleeding away what was left of Soviet military might - the Soviet archives released in 1991 showed that the USSR was on its last legs by the early 1980s, hopelessly overstretched

Question 10

Between 1979 and 1981, what 3 new ‘cold warriors’ emerged?

Answer 10

British PM
American President
Polish Pope (JPII)
each determined to challenge USSR militarily + ideologically

Question 11

When was the ‘new Cold War’?

Answer 11

1979-87
Invasion of Afghanistan -> Gorbachev (1985), launching perestroika and glasnost (1986) + meeting with Reagan in Reykjavik (1986)

Question 12

In 1983, how many people marched with the CND in London to oppose nuclear weapons?

Answer 12

1983, 200,000 people marched in London with CND

Question 13

In what ways did Thatcher contribute to ending the Cold War?

Answer 13

• combative style + determination to confront the USSR in the early 1980s
• willingness to negotiate with the reformist Gorbachev from 1985
• her foreign policy was founded on special relationship

Question 14

When did Thatcher and Gorbachev meet for the first time? Impression?

Answer 14

1984 - ‘I like Mr Gorbachev’, ‘He and I can do business together’

Question 15

What did Thatcher encourage Reagan to do?

Answer 15

to negotiate with Gorbachev - in 1896, at Reykjavik summit, G + R discovered that each were prepared to make compromises (although meeting ended w/o agreement, paved the way for future)

Question 16

What treaty limited short-range weapons + began a process of mutual disarmament? When?

Answer 16

1987, Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty

Question 17

What was Thatcher’s ‘handbag diplomacy’?

Answer 17

Thatcher’s more abrasive style of negotiation (compared to that of Foreign Office diplomats)

Question 18

What was Thatcher’s first priority in Europe?

Answer 18

to secure a better EEC deal for Britain (Britain was paying much more to the EEC than was being returned in benefits)

Question 19

When was Thatcher successful in getting Britain a rebate?

Answer 19

1984 - played well at home/ but annoyed some of European partners

Question 20

On what did French President Mitterrand and Thatcher cooperate closely over?

Answer 20

The Channel Tunnel project, agreed in 1986 and opening in 1994

Question 21

In … Thatcher negotiated the … with the other members of the EEC

Answer 21

In 1986 Thatcher negotiated the Single European Act with the other members of the EEC

Question 22

What did the Single European Act do?

Answer 22

changed the Assembly into the European Parliament + mentioned the possibility of future European monetary union (for Thatcher + supporters - would make a free market in Europe a reality)

Question 23

Cabinet views on Europe?

Answer 23

during 1980s, most cabinet ministers were pro-European + favoured its expansion - the creation and strengthening of a European free market was in line with Thatcherite economic goals

Question 24

What was the Westland Affair? When?

Answer 24

who should take over the failing British helicopter company Westland
- Michael Heseltine - favoured takeover from European consortium
- Thatcher favoured no intervention, even if would go to US company Sikorsky
- Heseltine believed Thatcher blocked discussion about the decision in cabinet –> stormed out cabinet meeting + resigned
(Thatcher later said it was closest she ever came to resigning)

Question 25

How did Thatcher earn the nickname ‘the Iron Lady’?

Answer 25

for her tough stance against the Soviets

Question 26

What did Denis Healey, Labour politician, call Thatcher?

Answer 26

‘Reagan’s poodle’