Foreign Policy 1951-64 - Chapter 4 Flashcards
What is NATO?
An alliance standing for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, consisting of 32 members, initially created as an opposition to the influence of the Soviet Union during the Cold War, formed in 1949. Its 12 founding members were the UK, US, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal.
What is a ‘superpower’?
A very powerful and influential nation. During the cold war, the two superpowers were the USA and USSR.
What is the EEC?
The precursor to the EU, originally consisting of 6 members and formed as an economic alliance between mainly France and Germany to prevent further conflict between the two. The twelve stars on the flag represent a symbol of unity and the twelve ideals.
What is EFTA?
Consisting of 4 countries, originally founded as an alternative to the EEC (now EU) by the UK. Now Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland make up EFTA. Britain was a founder but left in 1973 to join the EEC.
What was the cold war?
The undeclared war between the USSR and its proxies and the USA and its allies. Tensions were high and conflicts were often fought around the world but no direct confrontation between the USA and USSR occurred.
What is the special relationship?
The relationship between the USA and UK due to historic links and common cultural and linguistic ties. It peaked between Reagan and Thatcher and was strained during Vietnam.
What are the differences between Capitalism and Communism?
Under capitalism, the market is free, this is controlled by the state under communism.
Under communism, government is totalitarian, govermment is generally democratic in a capitalist country.
Capitalism highlights individual liberty, communism highlights the collective.
Who said that ‘Britain has lost an Empire and has not yet found a role’?
Dean Acheson said it in 1962 (US Secretary of State 1949-53).
How did WW2 impact Britain’s place internationally?
The UK was damaged and burdened with massive debts from the war. They were now under the shadow of the USA and USSR.
What happened to Britain’s empire in the years following WW2?
In 1947, Britain’s ambassador in Washington informed the Americans of bankruptcy and the UK withdrew from Greece, Turkey and Palestine. Independence was granted to India and Pakistan in 1947 too.
What did the Future Policy Study advise Macmillan’s government in 1960?
They said that the main priority should be the Atlantic Alliance (NATO). They wanted a relationship with Europe, North America and the Commonwealth. This idea was presented to the Commons. They said they wanted to bridge the gap between Asia, Africa and Europe.
What was the Schuman Plan (1950)?
It was created by the foreign minister of France, with the idea of creating a Coal and Steel Community between Germany and France to prevent conflict between them by binding their industries together. This was strongly supported by the UK and USA to secure Western Europe during the Cold War. This idea was fulfilled when the ECSC was created at the Treaty of Rome in 1957. The UK did not initially join.
Why did Britain not initially join the EEC?
-Few politicians or journalists supported this idea.
-The left were suspicious of the incredibly free market it would create.
-The right wanted to preserve trade links with the Commonwealth.
-There was a belief that the UK should not involve itself with continental Europe as it had not been conquered by Nazi Germany.
-There was an assumption that the UK was still a world power.
-Britain wanted a relationship with Europe without compromising the special relationship.
How was EFTA formed?
At the formation of the EEC at Messina, Sicily in 1955 a British delegation was present to encourage and observe and not join. The agreements were formalised at the Treaty of Rome in 1957. De Gaulle was determined to protect the EEC from ‘les anglo-saxons’. In 1959, not anticipating the success of the EEC, Britain formed EFTA, with Austria, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland. They were referred to as the outer 7 as opposed to the inner 6 of the EEC.
How did Britain change its mind about the EEC?
-In 1961, the Macmillan government sent an application the join the EEC.
-The EEC would boost industrial production and increase industrial efficiency.
-Economic growth had already been observed in EEC members.
What did the US think of the UK wanting to join the EEC?
The US backed its entry, seeing the UK as a link for America as tensions rose and the UK was rapidly losing its colonial empire.
Why was Britain’s EEC application rejected?
Britain wanted to maintain its position with the USA and Commonwealth, wanting imports like New Zealand Lamb, which would be blocked by EEC regulation.
Edward Heath oversaw negotiations which reached a conclusion in January 1963.
Charles De Gaulle, likely not trusting the UK’s commitment to the EEC and still annoyed by the perceived delaying of D-day, rejected the application by using his veto. This disappointed Macmillan and his cabinet who had failed.
How did the alliance between the UK, US and USSR develop during WW2?
The Pearl Harbour attack by Japan drew the USA onto the side of the allies and then the invasion of the USSR during Operation Barbarossa led to all three being allies against Nazi Germany. The idelogical divide meant that, after the war’s end, their alliance would split, with the US and UK staying allied against the expansion of the USSR. Additionally, the change in leadership - Roosevelt replaced by Truman and Churchill replaced by Attlee strained their relationship Stalin.
What are examples of times where the UK and US supported each other?
-Britain supported the UN in Korea against the USSR and North Korea.
-The RAF helped during the Berlin Airlift where Berlin was blockaded by road.
-Macmillan planned a summit between the Western leaders and Nikita Khruschev.
-Macmillan established a positive relationship with Eisenhower and JFK.
What happened during the Cuban Missile Crisis?
Communist Cuba was receiving nuclear weapons from the USSR, nearly leading to nuclear war between the US and USSR but an agreement was reached to decrease tensions by removing weapons from Italy and Turkey.
What are examples of times where the special relationship was strained?
The Burgess and Maclean Affair, Suez Crisis and Vietnam War.
What was the Burgess and Maclean affair?
Officers in British intelligence were Soviet spies, defecting in 1951. The revelation that British spies were revealing secrets strained the relationship with the USA. 2 of 5 spies went to Cambridge University. The public were made aware after Donald Maclean and Guy Burgess flew to the Soviet Union. Kim Philby also flew to the USSR in 1963.
Confessions were obtained from Anthony Blunt and John Cairncross.
What was the debate over nuclear deterrent?
The Attlee government committed Britain to developing nuclear weapons. The US stopped sharing nuclear secrets so they had to do it themselves. Churchill continued this policy and Britain tested their first weapon whilst the USA and USSR were developing Hydrogen bombs.
Concerns over the developments led to the CND’s formation in 1958.
What did Ernest Bevin say about nuclear deterrent?
‘We have to have a bloody Union Jack on it’ - referring to an independent nuclear deterrent.
What was the CND and how did they protest against the deterrent?
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament-
Around 8000 people took part in a demonstration at the weapons research base at Aldermaston, Berkshire in 1958 and a second occured in 1959. Many left-wingers became involved.
How did Britain test their nuclear weapons? Where are they now?
Britain tested, with the agreement of Australia in three sites - Monte Bello islands, Emu Field and Maralinga.
Nuclear weapons are now stored in Trident ships that are incredibly secretive.
