Peaceful Coexistence 1955-60

Question 1

3 reasons why Soviet foreign policy regarding peaceful coexistence developed

Answer 1

1. Consolidation of positions
   - By 1949 division of Europe established
   - US signified devotion to defend Europe from communism
   - US and USSR had to accept division and both willing to attempt negotiation
2. Military and Economic reasons
   - Nuclear capability makes it very dangerous
   - More money was put forward to compete in the arms race
3. Death of Stalin
   - Soviet leadership went through rivalry
   - Khrushchev used high risk to out manoeuvre his opponents

Question 3

When was the Austrian State Treaty?

Answer 3

July 1955

Question 4

After WWII how was Austria divided?

Answer 4

Divided into occupation zones and USSR received economic aid

Question 5

What was the agreement in Austria?

Answer 5

Withdrawal of occupying powers and that Austria would become a neutral state

Question 6

Why was Austria so significant for peaceful coexistence?

Answer 6

• Shows serious intent towards mutual cooperation by removing a potential conflict which could have ended the same fate as Germany
• First step towards cooperation
• Western powers also removed forces from Western Germany following this

Question 7

When was the Geneva Summit?

Answer 7

September 1955

Question 8

Khrushchev’s objectives prior to Geneva Summit (3)

Answer 8

1. Russia needed extensive conventional forces to control and keep secure the Eastern Bloc states
2. He needed to promote internal economic development in USSR
3. After the FRG was admitted to NATO, rearmament began and USA agreed to keep a large and permanent force in Europe.
   - This concerned Khrushchev and increased the urgency of organising a summit.

Question 9

2 key talking point at the Geneva Summit

Answer 9

1. Open Skies Proposal
2. Future of Germany

Question 10

What was the ‘open skies’ proposal?

Answer 10

Eisenhower presented this as a way to end the issues of both superpowers inspecting eachothers nuclear arsenals
- Each side was to provide details of military installations and to allow aerial reconnaissance
- Step closer to disarmament

Question 11

What was Khrushchev’s response to the ‘open skies’ proposal?

Answer 11

Rejected

Question 12

What did Eisenhower propose in terms of Germany at the Geneva Summit?

Answer 12

• Reunified
• Free elections
• Become apart of NATO

Question 13

What was Khrushchev response in terms of Germany at the Geneva Summit and what was the result following the summit?

Answer 13

Khrushchev would only contemplate reunification if a future Germany was demilitarised and neutral
- Out of the summit, an agreement emerged on the principle of free elections, but no procedures were set up to make this progress become reality

Question 14

Impact of Geneva Summit (Peaceful coexistence)

Answer 14

Overall the summits value lay not in its practical outcomes but in the fact that it appeared to mark the beginning of a dialogue between the superpowers
It seemed to mark a point of calm in international relations, and it suggested that the foundations of peaceful coexistence were firmly in place

Question 15

When were the Camp David Talks?

Answer 15

September 1959

Question 16

What were the two topics of conversation at Camp David Talks?

Answer 16

Disarmament and Berlin
(Also agreed to settle international issues through diplomacy)

Question 17

Camp David’s impact on USSR-China relations

Answer 17

It seems likely that the visit also caused a deterioration in relations between Russia and China, and reinforced the West’s belief that the USSR and China were not closely allied in a communist power bloc.

Question 18

What did Camp David lead to and when was this?

Answer 18

Paris Summit in May 1960

Question 19

What were the discussions at the Paris Summit?

Answer 19

• Deal over Berlin
• A ban of nuclear weapons in Germany
• Prohibit nuclear weapons in the Pacific.

Question 20

What was China’s response to Paris Summit talks and why?

Answer 20

China objected and said it would not be bound by any agreement it had not been involved in
- Most likely as China’s nuclear arsenal was set to be completed in 1960

Question 21

When and why did the Paris Summit collapse?

Answer 21

American U-2 spy plane was shot down over Russia on 1st May

Question 22

When was Vienna Talks and who met?

Answer 22

June 1961
- Kennedy and Khrushchev

Question 23

What happened at Vienna Talks?

Answer 23

• Khrushchev attempted to bully JFK due to it closely following Yuri Gagarin and Bay of Pigs
• Berlin Ultimatum re-issued as Khrushchev wanted the US to sign a peace treaty and remove its troops from West Berlin, but Kennedy refused

Question 24

What did Kennedy do after Vienna and impact on peaceful co-existence?

Answer 24

Asked Congress to increase defence spending, call up army reservists, and reactivate ships that were about to be scrapped
- Kennedy also called up for a build up of NATO forces