Revision Topic Sheet 4: Foreign Affairs

Question 1

Why was it now difficult for Britain to maintain its relationship with the USA?

Answer 1

Britain relied on the USA for loans but could not afford military involvement in the Vietnam War, so he had to utilise moral support instead of military support

Question 2

What was the response to relations with Europe?

Answer 2

In spite of the Europhiles, Wilson was ambivalent towards joining the EEC, wanting the economic benefits of joining the EEC whilst still wanting to strengthen the relationship with the Commonwealth

Question 3

Why was Britain again denied entry to the EEC?

Answer 3

Same issue as the first time, Britain wouldn’t forfeit its over-dependent relationship with the USA so Charles de Gaulle vetoed Britain’s application again

Question 4

What was Denis Healy’s plan for Britain’s defence and what did this mean for Britain?

Answer 4

He wanted to reduce Britain’s defence spending by £2 billion by 1970. This meant Britain couldn’t afford the new TSR2 high tech warplane and that Britain had to withdraw troops from East Suez

Question 5

Why was Britain struggling to negotiate with Rhodesia?

Answer 5

• After Macmillan’s 1960 Winds of Change speech backfired and was seen as a threat/challenge, Ian Smith rose to power and became the PM of Rhodesia.
• He then declared unilateral independence from the UK which led to a feud with Harold Wilson.
• Smith disavowed everything Wilson said to him during negotiations on the HMS Tiger, which led to oil sanctions despite what was a seemingly positive negotiation.
• Rhodesia easily gained supplies from neighbouring countries to avoid the oil sanction.
• This gave Smith the confidence to wait for Britain to give in during negotiations on the HMS Fearless in 1968, which overall made Britain look weak due to its inability to negotiate with its former colony