EISENHOWER: FOREIGN POLICY Flashcards
1
Q
Eisenhower’s priorities
A
- Strengthen Wester Europe so it doesn’t turn communist
- Ensure Soviets don’t control Middle East as it has half the world’s oil
- Support the French in Vietnam as southeast Asia was critical
- Stay strong but don’t overspen on defence – economy as the 4th arm of defence
2
Q
New Look defence policy
A
- Devoted to slashing the military budget because continued military expenditure at Truman’s level ($50 billion a year) would lead to inflation and economic ruin
- Didn’t want a federal budget deficit, or an exonomy dependent on the military-industrial complex
- Under the New Look policy, the US would have fewer conventional weapons to respond to communist aggression cost-effectively.
- Balanced military commitments with the country’s financial resources
- Some criticised for being inflexible
3
Q
Korean War
A
- Wanted an end to the war due to its devastating effect and because he had promised it in his election campaign
- Use brinkmanship and suggested that he would unleash the Nationalist Chinese forces against communist China, and veiled messages that he wpuld use any force necessary to bring the war to an end
- The Chinese, exhausted by over 2 years of war, agreed to terms and signed the armistice on July 27, 1953
4
Q
Signifiance of the Korean War
A
- Suffered over 50,000 casualties
- Spent nearly $70 billion
- First experience with a limited war where the nation did not seek or obtain absolute victory over enemy
- Eisenhower’s success strengthened his hand at home and in foreign affairs.
- Reestablished him on the world stage and gave heart to NATO
5
Q
Vietnam
A
- Eisenhower continued Truman’s financial backing in 195 the French asked for an American air strike to help them at Dien Bien Phu
- Military intervention was encouraged because he was told by the National Security Council that Vietnam was vital
- However, he had gained massive popularity by getting American troops out of Korea didn’t want to send them back to Southern Asia
- Eisenhower opted against intervention; the French were defeated at Dien Bien Phu and left Vietnam
6
Q
Geneva Conference 1954
A
- French withdrawal, temporary division of Vietnam until reunification and nationwide elections in 1956; Eisenhower refused, creating and sustaining the state of South Vietnam under the leadership of Diem, an anti-communist
- By 1961, Eisenhower had given Diem $7 billion, nearly 1000 advisors, and had established SEATO praised for keeping troops out; however, he committed the country to an unimpressive leader in a state that was not viable - missed opportunity to exit with the French
- Staked US prestige on the continuation of South Vietnam
7
Q
Quemoy and Matsu
A
- Quemoy and Matsu were two small islands in the Taiwan strait - China bombarded them soon after the establishment of SEATO
- Eisenhower didn’t want to risk war with China & the USSR over 2 small islands
- However, China imprisoned American pilots shot down over China in the Korean War
- Eisenhower signed a treaty with Chiang Kai-Shek to defend Taiwan
- Congress granted hin authorisation for it, and by April, China had backed down
- Another flurry of activity in 1598, defused this too
8
Q
Stalin’s death and the USSR
A
- Stalin had been in charge throughout the Cold War so far. His death in 1953 signaled the opportunity for an improvment in US-Soviet relations
- Now collective leadership led the USSR 1953-6 as a group rather than through individual leadership
- Malenkov called for ‘peaace and mutual understanding’ Eisenhower made his Chance for Peace speech - Russia would have to afree to a free and united Germany and East European independence, which they rejects as it wou;d have damaged their security sentence
9
Q
The USSR
A
- Soon had to deal with Krushchev, whose volatility made peaceful coexistence unlikely – continued ideological competition without military threat
- Something of a thaw - first meeting of Soviet-American leaders since Potsdam
- No meaningfil agreements and nuclear arms race continued – suggestion to decrease tensions - proposed pooling nulear resources to co-operate on development of atomic power, Soviets were unwilling to give up fissionable material as US had more
10
Q
Unrest in the Soviet Union
A
- East German Uprising, June 1953: started as a reaction to the imposition of harsher working targets, combined with a drop in living standards. Over 40,000 protestors and 420,000 troops sent, with 513 East Germans killed
- Poznan riots, June 1956: 100,000 protested for bettwer work and living conditions - over 400 tanks and 10,000 troops sent in and nearly 100 dead. More moderate leader Gomulka appointed
11
Q
Hungary
A
- Protests prompted by Khrushchev’s announcement of de-Stalinisation in led to the leadership of Nagy whi promised free elections and Cold War neutrality
- Idea of Hungarian secession from the Warsaw Pact led Khrushchev to send troops - 3000 Hungarians killed, 200,000 fled
- Khrushchev quickly re-established control by installing Kadar, who crushed resistance
- USA sent sympathies, but nothing else as it was inacessible and there was a crisis in the Middle East
- Iron Curtain remained impenetrable
12
Q
Berlin
A
- Khrushchev was anxious about Germany - West refused to give diplomatic recognition because it lacked legitimacy, and it was a disruptive enclave in the Soviet bloc
- November 1958: Threatened to turn access routes to Berlin over to East Germany and force recognition
- Eisenhower did not respond and denied there was a Berlin Crisis; accused of not taking seriously
- Gave Khrushchev room to retreat and the crisis passed
13
Q
Alternate methods of war
A
- July 1955: Eisenhower suggested ‘open skies’ so both sides could fly over the others’ territory and monitor military build-up
- Khrushchev rejected it as a transparent espoinage device
- October 1958: Sovirt-American talks on a nuclear bomb test ban treaty began
- Soviets rejeted Eisenhower’s repeated suggestions of a simultaneous halt to nuclear testing as it would mean inspection systems agreed they didn’t want war but nothing else
14
Q
Sputnik and the space race
A
- October 1957: Soviets launched the first satellite, Sputnik, into space
- Many reacted with hysteria, believeing they could send nuclear warheads across the ocean
- Depsite accusations of neglacting national security, Eisenhower refused to overreact – no fallout shelter program or military buildup
- Vanguard TV-3 was the US’s first attempt to launch a satellite, and fell back onto the launch pad 2 seconds after lift off – humiliating loss of prestige, USSR asked if they needed aid for underdeveloped countries
15
Q
U2 Crisis
A
- The U2 was a reconnaissance plane - 4 years of spy flights over USSR
- Pilot Gary Powers was shot down in 1960 Eisengower originally denied
- Responsibility until they produced both plane and pilot
- Khrushchev set out unacceptable terms for Paris summit to continue
- The summit and prospects for improved relations were ruined
16
Q
Guatemala 1954
A
- Guatemalan Revolutions brought Juan Jose Arevalo to power in its first democratic election; succeeded by Jacobo Arbenz, who instituted popular land laws
- Operation PBSUCCESS in 1953 - CIA armed, funded & trained a force of 480 men led by Carlos Castillo Armas, desposed Arbenz & installed military dictatorship
- Psychological warfare and possibilty of US invasion
- Intimidated the Guatemala army, who eventually refused to fight
17
Q
Iran 1953
A
- In 1951, Iran’s democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh seized the Anglo-Persian oil company to improve Iranian standard of living
- CIA told Eisenhower it may turn communist
- Encouraged an Iranian coup in 1953 that restored the pro-American dictatorship, who gave US oil companies 40% of Iranian oil
18
Q
Problems in the Middle East
A
- Desirable due to oil & acess to the Suez Canal
- Recognitiion of Israel had stoled tensions in the Middle East because the neighbouring Arab states were angry at Israel’s dispossession of Palestinian land and the treatment of Palestinians in Israel
- Eisenhower refused to sell arms to either side, but hoped to win Arab friends through economic aid, was keen not to alienate anyone in the region, in case they turned to the Soviets
- Dulles set up CENTO in 1955, made up of Iran, Iraq, UK, Pakistan and Turkey
- Iraq monarchy was overthrown in 1958 & Soviets began to develop friendly with Iraq, Egypt, Syria and Libya
19
Q
Suez Crisis 1956
A
- Nassar nationalised the Suez Canal in July 1956
- Britain sought American support for military action - he refused and Britain, France and Israel secretly prepared for action
- Attacked in October 1956 - Eisenhower’s pressure forced them to withdraw
- Received acclaim, but Nassar and the Soviets continued to pose problems
- He was willing to sacrifice his traditional Cold War allied to maintain positive relations with Egypt
- Britain had expected American sympathy for their actions, but Eisenhower wanted to keep in with Arab nations keep Soviets out of the Middle East (Khrushchev had proposed joint action)
20
Q
Arab nationalism and Lebanon
A
- By 1958, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan & Lebanon bought military equipment off the US; Syria & Egypt from the Soviets
- Nasser aroused the Arab nationalism that contributed to July 1958 overthrow the pro-western Iraq monarchy
- Lebanon appeald for US aid
- For the only time in his presidency, sent military – didn’t fire a shot and left in the month
- No chance of Soviet-American clash and it was a display of US strength & determination
- Lebanese regime was secure and Nassar adopted a lower profile
