Foreign Policy 1951-64 Flashcards
Possible exam question: “Britain’s position as a world power was significantly weakened in the years 1951-1964” Give 2 other lines of argument
It was strong in different ways - US relations and Nuclear deterrent
It was weakened slightly as it was in a period of transition - the EEC
How had Britain’s position as a world power significantly weakened? + 2 examples
Due to the fall of empire
Decolonisation - since Indian Independence in 1947 Britain was failing at morphing the Empire into the commonwealth. E.g the Mau Mau Rebellion 1952 in Kenya where there was a deaths on both the UK and the Kenyans side and they eventually gained independence in 1963 - tarnished Britain.
Suez Crisis 1956 - when a newly independent Egypt try to nationalise the suez canal which was partially owned by Britain they planned with France and Israel to secretly invade and regain the canal. However there were protests at home and even the US and USSR agreed on the troops being forced to pull out - embarrassing.
How was Britain’s position in the world arguably still strong?
US relations - became new priority over EEC and CW
Britain supported the US in the Korean War 1950-53 - 90,000 troops sent and 1000 died. They helped the US sustain West Berlin and were on hand during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.
Nuclear Power - Churchill did the first nuclear tests in 1952 and Britain had their first H bomb in 1957. In 1958 in the Mutual Defence Agreement the US and UK agreed to share technology.
How would you evaluate US relations and nuclear power as a strength for Britain?
That while the British supported the US - the US were less generous in the Special Relationship. They didn’t side with Britain in the Suez Crisis, they put the US nuclear system Polaris in Glasgow because Britain’s system was too expensive to maintain. The public didn’t like this as the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament formed in 1958 and there were large marches in Aldermaston.
How was Britain weakened by trying to transition their position in the world?
Before Britain believed in Splendid Isolation but as empire dissolved they had to join Europe to retain power this balance weakened them.
The failure of the EFTA - European Free Trade Association set up in 1959 to rival EEC failed to match the growth levels.
Britain failed to join in the initial ‘open door period’ of the EEC (1951-57) also then failed to join the EEC in 1963 when MacMillan applied for increased productivity and competition because Europe was sceptical of its ties to America and the Commonwealth.
