relations with, and policies towards, USA particularly the issue of vietnam Flashcards
harold Wilson himself was?
pro-American and keen supporter of Atlantic alliance
the cold war was ongoing and what did Britain want to ensure?
that the united states stayed committed to the defence of Europe
continuing possibility of the soviet threat highlighted by?
the soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia =stopped communist system becoming diluted there
however, relationship between Britain and the US came under strain over?
the Vietnam war
north Vietnam was
communist
south vietnam was
anti-communist
from the time that the escalation of the Vietnam war began in 1964 , us president Lyndon Jhonson wanted?
to gain support and approval from the United States’ allies
-Australia sent troops to Vietnam and US wanted Britain to do the same
how did Wilson react to Jhonson(us president) wanting Britain to send troops to Vietnam
Wilson resisted any direct military involvement despite his good relationship with Jhonson
the British response to Vietnam War was a difficult balancing act for Wilson, why?
-he wanted to maintain the Atlantic Alliance but the Vietnam war became hugely unpopular in Britain especially with left = so he risked losing political support if he was too supportive of it
what other considerations did Wilson have ?
economic and financial considerations
Britain in terms of military involvement
Britain could not really afford military involevement
what did Wilson also need support of?
also needed support of the us to support the value of sterling and to avoid devaluation= so could not afford to alienate US
in the end the policy can be summed up as?
giving moral support without military support
reaction of britain’s policy of giving moral support without military support
annoyed not only us who wanted greater backing but also a number of labour MPs and supporters who wanted Labour government to condemn the United States
