foreign policy

Question 1

The Schumann Plan

Answer 1

proposed by the french foreign secretary for the creation of single authority to control the production of steal and coal in France and west Germany to open up membership for other countries to join. this then became the ECSC.

Question 2

Paris Treaty 1951

Answer 2

• aimed to bring about french-German rapprochement
• members would create a single market for coal and steal with no customs duties
• it succeeded with no British involvement showing Britain did not need to be there.
• Britain did not join and ‘missed the bus’
• all countries who were involved were willing to sacrifice sovereignty in order to gain economic success
• Britain still did not join as were ‘focused on their aims’ and they did not want to give up any sovereignty

Question 3

EDC (European defence community)

Answer 3

• Edan claimed it was the only way Germany could rearm without breaking NATO
• set up on May 1952 where the 6 signed another treaty of Paris and the EDC was included, Britain signed a 50 year mutual security treaty with the new org.
• it failed as the French changed their mind and voted against it.

Question 4

western European union

Answer 4

Eden put forward this scheme to extend the Brussels pact of 1948 to allow Britain some control amongst the 6. The French agreed and Germany could rearm under NATO.

Question 5

Messiana Talks

Answer 5

• 1955 began to extend the possibility of extending the ECSC to include other sectors such as atomic energy and transport.
• talks began for a full-scale customs union or common market
• Britain wanted to join and to steer events but not to give up sovereignty.
• the treasury feared losing control of the British economy if they joined but there was an awareness that they could be negatively affected if they did not join
• Butler was ‘board’ at the talks so they decided to pull out of the community and start their own up called Plan G

Question 6

Plan G

Answer 6

• set up to deal with post-war recovery and distribute aid funds.
• the 6 could join as single entry
• it made no efforts in the economy and lacked strong central institution
• Britain would have the right to impose trade restrictions and dictated that the 6 should not discriminate against the FTA
• Britain thought that they needed Europe less than Europe needed them as they used a compromised policy so that they did not have to prioritise Europe over the commonwealth.

Question 7

EFTA

Answer 7

1958, 7 power European free trade association. it had lower tariffs so Britain opened its markets to greater competition

Question 8

applying to the EEC

Answer 8

1961 Macmillan applied for political reasons and economic reasons

Question 9

political reasons to join the EEC

Answer 9

if Britain wanted to have leading influence on world affairs it needed to join, it was important to restore american relationship after the Suez as the US wanted Britain to join

Question 10

economic reasons to join the EEC

Answer 10

first time exports to Europe was greater than the commonwealth. a general drive to improve the economy as trade to the commonwealth was declining,

Question 11

objections to the application

Answer 11

farmers were not impressed as it would restrict agricultural imports, many conservatives were scared of losing sovereignty and Gaitskell was using it against Macmillan by saying it will bring down the commonwealth.

Question 12

why it failed

Answer 12

De Gaulle thought that the application was half-hearted. he also thought that British entry would threaten Frances position as leader. He was suspicious of Britain’s relationship with the US and thought that Britain lacked commitment and loyalty.

Question 13

consequence

Answer 13

• public humiliation which damaged the conservatives
• Labour capitalised on it and used it against Macmillan
• personal blow for Macmillan