Churchill and international diplomacy 1939–1951 Flashcards
Churchill’s view on Britain’s world and imperial role; relations with other wartime leaders (Roosevelt, Stalin and de Gaulle); contribution to international conferences; plans for post-war Europe; Iron Curtain speech; attitude to Empire and Europe after 1945.
1
Q
How did Churchill dramatize the war?
A
Churchill portrayed the war as a conflict between democracy, freedom, civilised & Christian values against the dark dictatorial forces of Nazism
2
Q
What did Br. achieve with its position until ‘44?
A
- sustained alliances w/ US & USSR and played a maj role in how the way the war was fought
- maintained links w the empire
3
Q
What 4 things did Churchill persuade to occur?
A
- No need for Britain’s Empire to lend support.
- USA was persuaded, despite making a greater contribution, not to prioritise the Pacific War to follow Britain’s Mediterranean strat and not open a second front.
- The losses of the USSR were not matched by Britain yet the Russian alliance was not maintained.
- Not forced to commit to ending Empire at the price of US support.
4
Q
What was Br’s position until 1944?
A
Churchill had maintained Br’s role as a moral leader, champion of civilisation, majority of influence on war policy & imperial power.
5
Q
Relationship w/ Roosevelt
(5 points)
A
- Natural ally of Roosevelt as opposed to Stalin = English speaking territories.
-C. valued R. more than R. valued C = seen in correspondence.
-Snubbed by R. at Yalta conference & at Tehran
- R would regularly meet w/ other leaders w/out consulting C. - increasingly side-lined
- Initially poor relations as Roosevelt disliked C. & C. made unfavourable remarks about R. in ‘37.
6
Q
Explain how the US gave support but pursued a policy of non-intervention. (7 points)
A
- Nov. 1939: USA repealed Neutrality act, allowing BR. to purchase US allies.
- Oct. = declares Neutrality zone along US & SA coast - involved in Anglo-American naval coop.
- Sept. 1940 - US exchanges w/ Br for leases to 8 Br. naval bases.
- Dec. Roosevelt uses arsenal of democracy to defend arms sales to Br.
- March: Lend-Lease act passed - sell, exchange defence articles to any country whose defence thought to be vital to US defence.
- April: US troops occupy Greenland & Iceland to stop Germany using the, as military base.
7
Q
How did the US demonstrate reticence towards the UK? (7 points)
A
- military chiefs concerned Br. dispersing forces by fighting in North Africa rather than prep. for invasion of Fr.
- State dept. concerned Br wanted to gain territories like they had in 1919.
- Hull, Sec. of State concerned Br. empire stood in way of US war aim of world free trade.
- Roosevelt = morally wrong to rule over Br. empire = freedom of colonised ppl.
- Destroyers provided = obsolete.
- Took Br. gold reserves in S. Africa as security for Lend-Lease payments
- US made large profits from supplying arms.
8
Q
How was Churchill successful in gaining the US’ entry into the war? (x 8 points)
A
- Pearl Harbour attack = Hitler declared war on US confirming C.’s ‘tide is turning our way’.
- PM went to Washington & made a positive impression.
- US inclined to see C. as heroic fig. than imperialist warmonger due to his oratory skill.
- No invasion of Fr. until 1944 = NOT what US wanted.
- US supports ‘Europe First’ strategy => defeat Germany b4 Japan.
- Br. from alone to member of Grand Alliance of 26 nations.
- C. persuades US against 1942 operation sledgehammer (plan to invasion of Fr. to remove pressure from Russians.)
- US accepts Br. strategy for siciliy invasion July 1943
9
Q
What was roosevelts perspective on the war? (14 points)
A
- US preferred Giraud over de Gaulle
- US pressure forced date for North Fr. invasion
- R. assuming pos. that key element in US diplomacy = negotiate w/ Stalin & sideline w. C. = troops not contributing on as range of scale.
- Quebec meeting = splits apparent as US = attack S. Fr. but C. wanted Balkan attacks.
- R & C meet at cairo where R refused to meet C. privately to decide on a joint policy b4 the conference & then tehran = obvious that relations changed
- R met chinese Jieshi w/ out C’s knowledge
- R wanted Br. attacks in Burma at expense of Med. attacks
- US abandoned ‘Europe First’ => wanted Jap defeat
- bitter exchanges abt n. fr invasion
- Tehran = R favoured Stalin over C.
- C’s plan abt involving Turkey & est. Balkan front were rejected
- US supply supreme commander of operation ‘overlord’ = D-day invasion back A-A race to occupy Berlin b4 Russia
- Yalta in ‘45 agree on policy of free elections & democracy = R. concerned it wouldn’t apply to Br. empire.
10
Q
C’s perception of Communism (4 points)
A
- American mother had instilled C with values of anglo-saxons
- Bitter & outspoken critic of Revolution in 1917 = sent Br. forces against regime
- Opposition expression in extreme writings
- Expected Communism would weaken Russia = so Hitler would be successful.
11
Q
Russian’s achievements (3 points)
A
- Russian Resistance in winter of 41-42 => great turning points of war
- Russian resistance => very popular in Britain = showed state planning & socialism => national unity & success
- C. determined not to allow sympathy for Russia’s huge sacrifices in Leningrad & Stalingrad.
12
Q
Role reversal of Russia & UK (3 points)
A
- 1943 = sheer scale of Russian war effort convinced US that Stalin = key figure in the alliance
- C. fearful of consequences of Russian advances into Eastern Europe.
- By defeating Hitler => opened way for Stalin to become a dictator w/ equally repugnant ideology
13
Q
Explain what the percentages agreement was & when it was.
A
- challenged idealistic vision of Br. as a freedom fighter.
I- n October 1944, before the official end of WWII, but once fighting had ceased in Europe. - British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin met secretly in Moscow and divided up control of eastern and southern Europe.
14
Q
Give 3 of Russia’s actions in relation to Poland.
A
- Successes of Red Army = domination of Eastern Europe by Russia
- Yalta 1945 => C. had to accept Poland would lose Eastern territories & be dominated by a pro-Russian govt.
- C. needed Stalin much more than Stalin needed C.
15
Q
Relationship w/ Stalin (3 points)
A
- Shared capacity for drink
- unwavering support for interests of own country
- Relationship less problematic bc. Br. forces weren’t fighting alongside Russians as they did with the US.
16
Q
What were C’s feelings & actions towards France? (3 points)
A
- Loved France & spoke Fr. fluently, had been devastated by Fr. surrender & v. willing to send more support at Dunkirk.
- Shocked at Fr. surrender & concerned abt. Fr. fleet falling into G. control
- Actions taken against Fr. navy by Br. = brutal and unnecessary
17
Q
French feelings towards Br. (concerning Dunkirk)
A
Fr. saw Br, retreat as a betrayal
18
Q
De Gaulle’s Character/C.’s relationship w/ Fr. (4 points)
A
- C. admired De Gaulle but saw him as v. difficult to work with as v. uncompromising & unwilling to cooperate + disliked by the US
- Self-proclaimed champion of Fr. & nat. leader of post-war france.
- De Gaulle refused to work closely w/ former Vichy leaders in NA, annoying Roosevelt & embarrassing C.
- Although wholly dependent on Br. goodwill => felt no obligation & relations between himself & Br.
19
Q
Why was Churchill not focused on the domestic issues of Br. & what was in fact his top priority?
A
- effort of travelling & constant meetings shifted C’s focus to developing a relationship w the US.
TOP PRIORITY:
- establish personal contact w/ Roosevelt
- Put as much pressure on USA to enter war as possible
20
Q
What did C. achieve in terms of wartime conferences with the us?
A
- Ensuring the US wouldn’t prioritise war in the Pacific
- US ideas abt rapid invasion of Northern Fr. didn’t prevail
21
Q
What behaviour of Churchill did people experience? in terms of wartime conferences.
A
- 1942 Br ambassador found C ‘difficult’
- ‘behaved like a bull in a ring’
- ‘temperamental’
22
Q
What began to happen to C’s position in the war?
A
- Contributions in conferences becoming less important = C WAS INCREASINGLY SIDELINED
23
Q
What must C be given credit for?
A
- maintained the anti-Hitler alliance
- Flexible = had to accept demands that were against Br. interests
- Maintained Stalin as an ally
24
Q
Facts about the Yalta conference - what did Churchill have to accept?
A
- Russia seizing Eastern Poland despite teh fact that Br. was fighting (supposedly) for Polish independence
25
Q
What was Churchill’s attitude towards Europe?
A
- warmly supported Fr. statesman Briand’s idea of E.U. - 1930
- reflected on his rep. in Europe
- Offered Unions to Fr. declaring a Franco-Br. nation
- reduce barriers of trade/barriers
- good for Br. security
25
Q
What were C’s aims for post-war Europe? (x12)
A
- Witnessed weakness of Br. pre-war foreign policy
- Hoped for solid Anglo-Am. friendship & peace & stability in post-war Europe
- Did NOT want to abandon Br. control of empire
- Supported global association of nations to replace the LON
- Tried to accommodate USSR by making concessions to Stalin’s demands. = most of his thinking on maintaining peace depended on relations outside of Europe.
- Felt US relationship was key to maintaining peace.
- 1944 stalin estab. spheres of influence.
- C committed to an atlantic policy => close relationship w/ USA & committed to opposing Communism.
- Initially favoured harsh measures against Germany, yet old fears of building resentments i.e. 1919 were present.
- Expressed concern abt loss of german land to russia
- Not guaranteed:
US would cont. involvement in europe or that the US & Br. relationship was strong
USSR Stalin would stick to his agreement at Yalta for free elections - Communist support growing in Italy & Fr. causing concern
-
26
Q
What was the significance of the Iron Curtain Speech 1946? (3 points)
A
- est. the idea of a real & permanent division between the east and the west , creating
international tension. - rallied support behind the opposition to soviet expansion
- occurred at a time when many wanted a return to peace & gratitude for USSRs services so C was criticised for being ‘irresponsible’ - led to campaigns outside of C’s hotel room in NYC.
27
Q
What was C’s view of Br’s role?
A
- Br. & empire were in a unique position
- unity in the groups = strengthen position
- Europe = central to defence of empire
28
Q
Problems of this view of Br’s role? (4 points)
A
- Post-war Br. = struggling economically = defence costs of being such a key player are v high
- all groups resentful/fearful as didn’t want Br to dominate.
- C. established view that Europe divided ‘by an Iron curtain’
- would involve obligations as well as benefits => Br. didn’t want to be tied down.
