How successfully did Britain respond to international crises? Flashcards
What happened in June 1950 and what was the response?
North Korea launched a full-scale invasion of South Korea
The US organised a coalition of 16 countries to repel the invasion
What happened in September?
A US landing behind North Korean lines forced the communists to retreat and America then launched an invasion of the North
What was the result and what happened in July 1953?
China sent huge forces into Korea and pushed the US-led forces back to the 38th parallel
The war then became stalemate and an armistice was signed in July 1953
Why did Britain join the UN force in Korea?
Labour believed that communist aggression needed to be challenged to prevent another world war
Participation would demonstrate to the Americans that Britain was one of the two world powers
Not joining might have imperiled the US commitment to the defence of Europe and NATO
What was the Korean War?
The first major challenge to the credibility of the UN of which Britain was a founding member
What had Britain shown and why was the war a success?
It would take part in defending independent states, supporting the UN, and working alongside the US
The North Korean invasion was defeated and South Korea protected
Why was British involvement less successful/important?
Political and strategic control of the war remained in American hands
Britain influenced the fateful decision in September 1950 to invade the North but the majority of the troops involved were American
What were British and Commonwealth forces dwarfed by?
The American commitment: Britain had lost 700 men while America had lost nearly 34,000
What had Churchill received and what was the result?
A promise that the government would be consulted before America considered using the bomb
This promise lapsed
What were the advantages of British participation?
Britain had demonstrated its loyalty to the USA
Britain had helped to check communist aggression and establish the UN as an effective agency
NATO established a permanent military bureaucracy that tied the USA to the defence of Europe
What were the disadvantages?
The increased expenditure added to the difficulties of Britain’s economy, which was still struggling to recover from the impact of WW2
What was the Suez Canal and what had been the case since 1875?
A vital sea route by which Middle Eastern oil was transported to Europe and British forces reached their Far Eastern bases
The British government had been the majority shareholder in the company running it
What happened in 1952 and 1954?
1952: The pro-British King of Egypt was overthrown by military officers
1954: Nasser proclaimed himself president of Egypt
What did Nasser do?
Immediately negotiated the withdrawal of British troops from their remaining base in the zone around the Suez Canal, determined to remove British influence
What was Nasser prepared to do?
Buy arms and accept aid from the USSR
What happened in December 1955 and what was the response?
The American and British governments agreed to lend Egypt the money to build a large dam designed to help modernise its economy
Nasser was reluctant to follow pro-western policies
What happened in mid-July 1956 and what was the response?
The offer of the loan was withdrawn
Nasser took control of the Anglo-French company that ran the Suez Canal
America sponsored diplomatic manoeuvres to try to solve the crisis peacefully but without success
What did Eden believe?
It was the first step in a plan to establish Egyptian domination of the Middle East
Nasser would allow the USSR to extend its influence in the region
Nasser’s action amounted to having ‘his thumb on our windpipe’ because nearly a third of the ships using the canal were British
What had the US accepted?
That continued British influence in the Middle East was essential to preventing the area falling under Soviet control
What did Eden conclude and what did he hope to use the crisis for?
That Nasser had to be challenged by force if necessary
Overthrowing Nasser’s regime
What was the attitude of France?
France disliked Nasser because he was assisting the rebels fighting to end French colonial rule in Algeria
What happened in late October and early November?
French and British troops, in collusion with Israel, attacked Egypt
What was the result of the attack and why?
The Anglo-French invasion failed
Nasser sunk ships in the canal, preventing its use
What was the position/response of the US?
Eisenhower had not been consulted
Insisted on the withdrawal of the invading forces
What did Eden do and why?
Resigned in January 1957, humiliated by Nasser and Eisenhower
Why did Britain find itself opposed by much of world opinion?
The USSR condemned the invasion as imperialist
Nasser’s action wasn’t illegal as all he was doing was buying out the shareholders, whom he promised to compensate
What had Eisenhower done, what did he feel, and what was difficult for him to do?
Made it clear to Eden that he opposed the use of force
Felt deceived
Condemn the USSR’s invasion of Hungary
What happened on 2 April 1982?
Argentine forces invaded and captured the Falkland Islands
What did Argentina believe?
That Britain would not have the will or means to retake the islands
What did the British government have to decide between?
Whether to risk military defeat by attempting to recapture the islands or suffer a loss of prestige by abandoning the island’s British population to Argentinian rule
What happened on 5 April?
Thatcher’s government dispatched a task force of ships and troops to retake the islands
What happened on 2 May?
A British submarine sank the General Belgrano, an Argentine cruiser, with the loss of 360 lives
What happened a few days later?
An Argentine missile destroyed HMS Sheffield, killing 20 crew members
What happened on 21 May?
British troops landed on East Falkland, 50 miles from the capital
The Argentine air force continued to attack British ships, sinking several, but losing planes in the process
What happened on 14 June?
British forces entered the capital and the Argentine forces surrendered
Why was Britain successful?
Thatcher reacted swiftly to the invasion
The UNSC demanded the withdrawal of Argentine forces, ensuring that Britain’s actions were justified in law
The European Community was persuaded to impose sanctions on Argentina
The opposing sides in the war were not well matched
Why was the attitude of the Reagan administration important?
Reagan didn’t think the islands were worth a war; and his secretary of state, Alexander Haig, made intensive efforts to mediate
These were unsuccessful, but they gave the British forces time to reach the South Atlantic
Why was the US Defence Secretary important?
Weinberger, was strongly pro-British and provided the task force with weapons, vital military intelligence, and the use of the US air base on Ascension Island, an essential staging post for the build-up of British forces
Why was the war a success?
Thatcher’s political fortunes were transformed by the war and the Falkland’s victory contributed to her landslide election victory in 1983
Thatcher boasted that her policies had restored Britain’s ‘greatness’
Many admired the resolution and skill that both Thatcher and the British armed forces displayed
Why was the war unsuccessful?
Britain could not go to war without the active support of the US
Defending the islands against any future attack required Britain to spend £1.5mn per islander
The issue of the sovereignty of the islands remained unresolved
It was a costly enterprise of little real significance
What happened on 2 August 1990?
Saddam Hussein invaded and conquered Kuwait, claiming that Kuwait had always been part of Iraq’s territory
What were the United States worried about?
That Iraq would go on to seize Saudi Arabia’s oil fields, giving it control of most of the world’s supply
How did George H. W. Bush respond?
Built up a strong coalition against Iraq which involved troops from Arab nations
What did the war have?
UN support
What happened in January and February 1991?
The bombing of Iraqi defences and troop concentrations began
The ground assault began and hostilities were over within 100 hours
Why was Britain involved?
To support both the US and a UN resolution
Kuwait was a long-standing British ally
How many servicemen did Britain deploy?
More than 53,000
Why was the Gulf War a success?
Kuwait was liberated
It strengthened US-British relations
What was Thatcher’s involvement?
Her reputation for decisive defence of international law and stability was strengthened by her actions in the run-up to the war
She told the media, ‘you cannot have a situation where one country marches in and takes over another country’
Thatcher stiffened the resolve of Bush by telling him: ‘this is no time to go wobbly’
Wha did Bush want to do?
Take time to build the widest possible coalition against Iraq and give time for UN and diplomatic pressure to end the invasion without war
What was the role of the RAF and British troops?
Planes played a significant part in the bombing campaign and troops were also involved in the ground assault
What did it cost Britain?
47 deaths
What did the Gulf War demonstrate?
That British armed forces could still play a significant role in supporting US initiatives
What were the problems?
Hussein was allowed to maintain control of Iraq and persecuted his domestic enemies, especially the Kurds
The war was seen by many in the Middle East as British and American imperialism
How did Major demonstrate that Britain still had diplomatic influence?
He enlisted US and European support for his plan to create ‘safe havens’ for the Kurdish population
