foreign relations Flashcards
schuman plan
set out proposals for a coal and steel community that would inegrate French and Germany heavy industry
aim to promote rapid economic reconstruction
why didnt britain initially get involved
very few politicians in favour of Britain taking up a leadership role in europe
believed it was an issue for continental europe
assumption britain was still a great world power
britain wanted to keep its special relationship with america
left view of european involvement
suspicious of free market principles behind the common market
right view of european involvement
regarded the trade links with australia, candada and new zealand as more important
treaty of rome
1957
launched the EEC
britain observed but not join
shift in british attitudes
1960 britain took the lead in the formation of European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
1961 application hopes
would bost industrial production
would increase industrial efficiency with greater competition
stimulate economic growth
US opinion on british entry to EEC
keen
saw britain as a vital link between europe and america
difficulty joining the eec
britain wanted to keep its position with the commonwealth and the US
EEC already had economic structures the UK found hard to conform too
why didnt britain get accepted 1st time
Charles de Gaulle veto britain application
was a shock and other 5 members dissapointed
post war government and nuclear
labour government committed britain to developing an independent nuclear deterrent
US and nuclear power
stopped sharing nuclear assets with britain
if britain wanted to become a nuclear power, would have to do alone
CND
formed in 1958
wanted unilateral nuclear disarmament
quickly became most powerful pressure group in UK
backed by many intellectuals
CND demonstration
1958
8000 protestors
aldermaston in berkshire
blue streak
britains own rocket project
abandoned in 1960
replaced by dependence on the American Polaris submarine weapon systems
korea at end of ww2
occupied by soviet union in north, by US in south
2 seperate governments established, both claimed to be legitimate
1950 invasion
forces from north korea supported by soviets and china, invaded the south
UN action
condemned the action and sent UN forces to combat the invasion
conclusion of korean war
ceasfire in 1953
Korea would be split between a communist North Korea and a non-communist South-Korea
what did korean war demonstrate
britain’s willingness to continue to play a major role in world affairs
- despite economic restraints
US was greatest power
suez canal
main connection for trade routs from the mediterranean to asia, austrialia and new zealand
VITAL for oil shipments
- 80% oil passed through suez
Aswan Dam
US and Britiain planend to invest in it but pulled out in 1956
in response, Nasser announced the nationalisation of the Suez Canal Company to provide finance for the Aswan Dam
eden understanding of the situation
influenced by his belief that Britain was still an imperial power
saw nasser as an ‘evil dictator’
secret plan
israel would invade egypt then Britain and france would intervene
concealed from parliament and the US
excuse for suez intervention
enforce peace on Eygypt and israel
real effect of suez invasion
seize control of the suez canal zone
how did invasion of egypt go
badly at the start, but suceeded in the end
soon realised it was essential to pull out
british reaction to suez
storm of political protests
labour opposed the conflict
anti-war protests were held
US opinion on suez
opposed the action
impact of US opinion
britiain were not strong enough to stand up to US pressure
Britian plunged into a financial crisis
impact of suez - government
humiliated eden
lied to parliament and public
appeared weak
divided the conservative party
eden resiged in january 1957
impact of suez - world position
highlighted britain’s inability to function without US support
provoked Khrushchev to threaten britaina
increased soviet influence over Egypt
impact of suez - financial
canal closed for 5 months therefore british access to fuel and oil was limited
petrol rationing
unstable economy
ghana
independent in 1957
first british african coloniy to be granted independence
kenya
mau mau rebellion in 1952
assumed to be able to be squashed but too strong for british military
granted independence in 1963
‘winds of change’
macmillan speech
capetown 1960
‘winds of change’ blowing through africa, change in polict and decolonisation
was winds of change successful
yes
very swift
by 1964 the transition from empire to commonwealth seemed to represent a large achievement
