Foreign Relations

Question 1

Influence of WW2 on Britains foreign policy

Answer 1

Highlighted Britains limits in its ability to control its empire
Britain faced bankruptcy and would have to withdraw from various countries
The joining of NATO in 1949 sided Britain with America

Question 2

4 main reasons why Britain didn’t initially want to join the EEC in 1957

Answer 2

Wanted to maintain ‘special relationship’ with the US.
Few politicians wanted to take up the leadership role on offer in Europe.
Britain felt they were a world power, not just a European power.
Britains pride - Germany and France had been defeated in WW2, Britain had won.

Question 3

What was EFTA?

Answer 3

Created in 1960 by Britain along with Austria, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland
Created a free trade area in Europe, although each member could negotiate separately with non-EFTA members.
Moderately successful - didn’t match the growth of the EEC

Question 4

Why did Britain change their mind with an EEC application in 1961?

Answer 4

Economic:
- Boost industrial production for a large-scale export market
- increase industrial efficiency with growing competition
- Stimulate economic growth alongside the rapid expansion and success the EEC has already had.

• US were keen, seeing Britain as a vital link between Europe and the US

Question 5

What were the complexities over Britains EEC application?

Answer 5

They wanted to remain in trade with the commonwealth.
They wanted to keep their relationship with the US.
They found it difficult to conform to policies like the Common Agricultural Policy.

Question 6

What happened to the EEC application in 1963?

Answer 6

Vetoed by French president Charles De Gaulle after months of negotiating by Edward Heath.

Question 7

Reasons for De Gaulles veto

Answer 7

Mainly Britains special privileges in terms of their application
Animosity dating back to WW2
“ Bound by her trade, her markets, her supplies, to countries that are very diverse and often far away.”

Question 8

Britains overall stance on the two superpowers

Answer 8

Sided with the US after WW2 to oppose the expansion of communism from the USSR
Founding member of NATO - a defence policy for western countries.
Supported the US in Korea.

Question 9

What was the Cuban Missile Crisis and how did it effect Britains relations with the USSR?

Answer 9

Cuba requested missiles stationed there from the USSR, the US feared this and set a blockade to prevent Soviet ships reaching Cuba.
Tense negotiations saw the Soviets withdraw and the US agree to withdraw weapons from Turkey and Italy.
Provided greater tension between Britain and the USSR, being supportive of the US

Question 10

How did the Burgess and Maclean affair strain relations with the US?

Answer 10

These were two highly placed British intelligence officers that defected to the Soviet Union in 1951.
The revelation British spies had been leaking info to Moscow worried the US, who became more reluctant in sharing intelligence secrets with Britain.

Question 11

What did Ernest Bevin say about the possession of a nuclear deterrent in 1946?

Answer 11

“ I don’t want any other foreign secretary of this country to be talked to or act by a secretary of state in the United States. We’ve got to have this thing over here whatever it costs. We’ve got to have the bloody Union Jack on top of it.”

Question 12

What was Britains position as a nuclear power?

Answer 12

Third country in the world to develop nuclear weapons behind the US and USSR.
First tested the atomic bomb in 1952.
Tested the ‘H’ bomb in 1957, 4 years after the US and USSR.

Question 13

How Britain still reliant on the US to become a nuclear power?

Answer 13

Tested their first H bomb with American technical assistance.
December 1962 Macmillan persuaded Kennedy to provide Polaris missiles in British submarines, economic struggle - reliant on US
1958 mutual defence agreement with the US, they would share nuclear technology with Britain, dependant again on the Us.

Question 14

Formation and growth of the CND

Answer 14

Formed in 1958 as a campaign to reject nuclear weapons.
backed by intellectuals and middle class protestors.
Powerful image strengthened with 8000 people protesting at the weapons research base in Aldermaston in 1958.
Many labour left wingers backed this powerful image of ‘unilateralism’

Question 15

Korean war overview

Answer 15

Two separate governments were set up in Korea after WW2, in the north supported by the USSR and in the south supported by the US.
In 1950, forces from the north invaded the south, the UN condemned this action and sent forces to combat the invasion.
Britain sent over 90,000 soldiers, second most behind the US.

Question 16

Results of the Korean War

Answer 16

Ceasefire agreed in 1953
Over 1000 British troops died
Korea split into a communist North and non-communist south.

Question 17

What did the Korean War show

Answer 17

The Cold War was a global war
Britain was willing to play a major role in world affairs, despite economic constraints
The US was still the greater power than Britain.

Question 18

What was the Suez Canal?

Answer 18

The main trade route from the Mediterranean to the Indian ocean and beyond Asia.
Vital route for oil shipments, 80% of Western Europe’s oil imports passed through the canal.

Question 19

What happened in July 1956?

Answer 19

Colonel Nasser nationalised the Suez Canal company to provide finance for the Aswan Dam, that the US and Britain had pulled out of funding for.

Question 20

Reaction to Nassers nationalisation

Answer 20

Eden saw Nasser as ‘an evil dictator who could not be allowed to get away with unprovoked aggression.’
Bi-partisan hostility.

Question 21

Plan discussed with France and Israel over suez

Answer 21

Israeli forces would invade Egypt, British and French forces would then intervene as ‘peacemakers.’
They would then seize control of the Suez Canal Zone.
The details of this plan were concealed from parliament and the US.

Question 22

Reaction to the invasion of suez

Answer 22

A storm of political protest in Britain
The Labour Party opposed the conflict
Condemned by the US who put Britain under financial pressure

Question 23

Long term consequences of the suez crisis

Answer 23

Challenged Britains reputation as a force for good
Demonstrated Britains reliance on the US
Highlighted Britains weak economic position
There’s doubt on Britains status as a world power

Question 24

4 main reasons for the Britains ‘retreat from empire’

Answer 24

Independence movements in the occupied countries
Financial concerns
International pressure from countries like the US
Impact of Suez exposing Britains dependence on the US.

Question 25

What did Macmillans ‘wind of change’ speech acknowledge?

Answer 25

Called for decolonisation and recognition of independence movements.
He also sought these countries to accept majority rule.
Countries like South Africa preferred to follow minority rule and broke all ties with Britain in 1961.

Question 26

What did the Mau Mau rebellion demonstrate?

Answer 26

The problems with Britains colonial policies

Britains incapability of morally handling rebellion.

Question 27

Which African countries were granted independence in the wake of Suez?

Answer 27

Ghana in 1957
Nigeria and Cyprus in 1960
Tanganyika and Sierra Leone in 1961
Uganda in 1962 
Kenya in 1963

Question 28

Overview of the decolonisation policy

Answer 28

Successful and swift
Completed with less violence than countries like Belgium and Portugal
By 1964 the transition from Empire to Commonwealth highlighted significant achievement