Affluent Society: Foreign

Question 1

What were the key developments in Europe?

Answer 1

1. 1956-7 EEC formed with France, Germany, Italy and “Benelux” countries
2. 1960 creation of EFTA with Britain, Austria, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland and Sweden
3. 1961 Britain’s application to EEC
4. Britain’s application blocked by de Gaulle

Question 2

Why didn’t Britain join the EEC in 1957?

Answer 2

1. few politicians were keen on GB taking a leadership role in Europe
2. left suspicious of free-market ideas. ‘The Durham miners won’t wear it. I’m afraid.’ [H.Morrison]
3. right considered traditional trade links with Australia and New Zealand as more important
4. Europe a continental issue: Germany had been enemies, France occupied and GB won war
5. assumption GB was still a world power
6. GB wanted to balance involvement in Europe with commitments to Empire and ‘special relationship’

Question 3

Why did Britain want to join the EEC in 1961?

Answer 3

1. EFTA’s relative economic weakness
2. doubts about “special relationship” after Suez
3. increasing reliance on US nuclear bomb technology (Polaris)
4. EFTA didn’t promote British trade eg 1954-60 exports to common market rose 29% vs 1% to sterling area countries

Question 4

Why was GB not accepted by 1964?

Answer 4

1. concern for special trading privileges for the Commonwealth
2. De Gaulle’s concern about GB’s half-hearted support, possible subsequent applications from EFTA nations, GB becoming rival to France for EEC leadership and fear GB was becoming increasingly dependant on USA

Question 5

How significant was De Gaulle in preventing GB membership?

Answer 5

1. Macmillan meeting about joint nuclear arms development in 1962 + fear of US domination in Europe
2. rejection was personal and unequivocal

Question 6

How were GB and US Cold War allies?

Answer 6

1. 1951 Jan 100,000 British in Korea
2. US bombers 1952 allowed in Britain on Truman’s promise they’d be deployed on joint decision
3. 1953-56 increased defence budget to 10%
4. with USA supported SEATO vs communism

Question 7

What evidence is there for a stronger “special relationship”?

Answer 7

1. 1957 white paper increase nuclear eg 1957-62 troop numbers cut by 45%
2. 1958 Mutual Defence Agreement discuss design of weapons and by 1960 “Thor” missiles
3. independent “blue streak” replaced with Polaris
4. kept informed over Cuban Missile Crisis 1962

Question 8

How did tensions increase between Britain and the US?

Answer 8

1. Suez affair
2. Burgess + Maclean’s defection to USSR in 1951
3. Kim Philby spy-ring
4. Macmillan’s 10 day trip to Moscow 1959
5. 1959-63 disarmament talks leading to nuclear test ban treaty 1963 signed by Big 3

Question 9

What evidence is there for Britain’s independence?

Answer 9

1. 1952-57 H bomb tests

2. support for reconciliation with USSR; ‘Big 3’ conference and president Khrushchev visiting in 1956

Question 10

What was Britain’s reaction to the “special relationship”?

Answer 10

1. CND formation in 1958; 2 huge marches 58 and 59

2. party members question pro-nuclear policy

Question 11

What was the significance of Suez for Britain?

Answer 11

1. damage economy eg BofE lost $45 mill in 4 days + oil supply cut
2. Gaitskell’s + Bevan’s reaction calling Eden’s ‘mad venture’ + public opposition
3. Britain had acted independently of NATO, UN + Commonwealth which had failed
4. Britain couldn’t act alone especially with aggression eg USSR had threatened rocket attacks
5. special relationship damaged, Britain considered closer ties with Europe (but US supported currency crisis)
6. Khrushchev invasion on Budapest no intervention from west due to Suez

Question 12

Why did Britain impose decolonalisation?

Answer 12

1. Political reasons: consensus between Conservative and Labour against right wing imperial groups eg Macmillan’s 1960 speech “wind of change”, pace of change from 1957, containing communism, French escalation of decolonisation, racism in the UK
2. Ethical reasons: Mau Mau rebellion, national independence movements in places like Malaya, Kenya, + Cyprus, Suez crisis
3. Economic factors: empire costly, British debts after WW2 and reliance on US loans, cost of social reforms and defence spending, appeal of Europe and USA as alternative trading partners

Question 13

What was the significance of Southern Rhodesia and South Africa?

Answer 13

1. SR declared UDI in 1965 which led to white , racist, rebel country which refused British persuasion to become more democratic and fair
2. SA independent from 1931 (left commonwealth 1961) apartheid regime remained despite British objection