FOREIGN AFFAIRS Flashcards
the Vietnam war …… in this period? (1964 -1970)
continued.
the USA increased its ….. after …..?
involvement and 1964.
how was the USA’s involvement portrayed?
controversial, especially as news about the atrocities became known.
what did it create for the British govt?
political difficulties.
wilson gave …. support but not …… support?
moral but not military.
give two reasons Britain didn’t join the Vietnam war?
- much opposition to involvement in war, mostly from Labour Party.
- not in a financial position to become involved in war.
dates of Vietnam war?
1955-75.
good word to use when someone openly critiques something?
condemn - eg. the left who wanted him to condemn the war.
why were the USA disappointed in Britain?
they were disappointed on how limited the support from Britain was.
wilson wanted to keep the Atlantic ….. ..?
alliance intact.
who was the Atlantic alliance at this time?
NATO - North Atlantic treaty organisation (1949 founded).
however, wilson wanted the USA to remain committed to …?
resisting the communist threat in Europe.
why was the communist spreading threat in Europe strong at this time?
in the light of the USSR’s invasion of Czechoslovakia.
G….. was the person who opposed the application of the conservative govt joining the EEC in 1961?
gaitskell.
what did people such as Barbara castle and Micheal foot (lefts) see the EEC as?
a capitalist club.
the left is commonly referring to …?
the labour party.
which other powerful groups were against joining the EEC?
the trade unions.
give two individuals that were members of the cabinet whom where in favour of joining the EEC?
Roy Jenkins and George brown.
what does wilson was ambivalent mean?
he had mixed feelings, or was unsure or hesitant about something.
why did wilson wanting to join the EEC impact his relationship with USA.
- if it became more focused on Europe - they would become distant from America.
- it could prioritise British over US trade - making its bigger than USA.
in 1966, what did wilson do and what was he persuaded by?
persuaded by the economic case to put forward an application.
why were the left not too critical of the application?
they didn’t expect it to be successful/have a great outcome.
the application was rejected in ..?
November 1967.
why did they get rejected from EEC?
Wilson didn’t reassure De Gaulle that he was prepared to lessen his “special relationship” with the USA.
the decolonisation that had started under macmillan … and …..?
continued and accelerated.
withdrawal from Suez - reducing Britains military commitments in the commonwealth was necessary for ….?
economic reasons.
withdrawal from Suez - spending cuts aimed to bring the defence budget down below £……. by 1970?
£2 million.
withdrawal from Suez - 1967, minister for defence, Dennis Healey, set a timetable to withdraw troops from …, the …., …. and …?
aden, the Middle East, Malaysia and Singapore.
withdrawal from Suez - the timetable was accelerated in January 1968 after the ………..?
the devaluation crisis.
the federation of nyasaland and Rhodesia broke up into ….?
northern Rhodesia, southern Rhodesia and nyasaland in 1963.or
northern Rhodesia became the independent Zambia in ..?
1964.
nyasaland became independent Malawi in …?
1964.
southern Rhodesia also wanted to become …?
independent.
what did the pm of Rhodesia do in 1965?
smith issues a unilateral Declaration of Independence without accepting majority rule.
what did wilson do to Rhodesia after smith did the UDI?
declared this to be illegal and put economic sanctions on Rhodesia.
where did wilson and smith meet in 1966 and what did they discuss?
HMS tiger - to discuss a negotiated settlement.
what did smith do after the talk on HMS tiger?
progress was made in the talk - but then smith went back on what was agreed when he got back to Rhodesia.
wilson was unable to make smith …. …?
back down.
what was Wilsons aims of these talks with smith?
peacefully bring back Rhodesia under legal british control and agree a plan for black majority rule.
what was the compromise they were planning on making?
smith would accept majority rule, and Britain would lift sanctions and avoid violence.
why did wilson want black majority rule over Rhodesia?
it was wrong for a 5% white minority to rule over a 95% black African majority.
give two other reasons for wanting black majority rule?
- the UN and many other commonwealth countries supported it - wilson didnt want to be seen as racist.
- avoiding violence/rebellion from black majority.
how did smith not backing down make Britain look weak?
bc Britain couldn’t change his mind and therefore didnt have much influence/power.
failure to end white majority rule disappointed many on … …?
the left - Labour Party.
sanctions remained and Rhodesian independence was not officially recognised until …?
1979.
