Section 2: Chapter 8

Question 1

Relations With USA: WILSONS VIEW OF AMERICA & DEFENCE OF EUROPE 60s (3)

Answer 1

Pro-American
Keen supporter of Atlantic Alliance
Communism spreading (Czechoslovakia PM introduced liberal reforms & was crushed by Russia invading)

Question 2

Relations With USA: VIETNAM & ATLANTIC ALLIANCE

Answer 2

US President wanted support through troops from Britain, same as other allies
Wilson risked becoming unpopular w. population if supported war by sending troops but also risked losing financial aid

Question 3

Relations With USA: MICHAEL FOOT

Answer 3

Popular & respected left winger of Labour Party
Opposed Vietnam war & openly wanted Wilson to condem US actions openly
Printed views in newspaper openly condemning Wilson for not condemning Johnson

Question 4

Relations With USA: WILSON’S RESPONSE TO VIETNAM WAR (3)

Answer 4

Moral support w/out military support
Annoyed Johnson
Annoyed number of Labour MPs

Question 5

Relations With Europe: LABOUR GOVT. VIEW (3)

Answer 5

Labour Left: club for capitalists & prevent socialist policies (Unions, Barbara Castle, Michael Foot)
Europhiles: Roy Jenkins, George Brown
Wilson: ambivalent

Question 6

Relations With Europe: SECOND ATTEMPT TO JOIN EEC (4)

Answer 6

1966, Wilson convinced of economic benefits
Oct 1966, cabinet agreed to back it
Prospects of joining low: halfhearted, DGaulle
Toured EEC countries for support, met DeGaulle in Paris where they were refused

Question 7

Relations With Europe: REFUSAL TO JOIN EEC (2)

Answer 7

DeGaulle asked Wilson if they were willing to cut ties w. USA but Wilson couldn’t
DeGaulle vetoed application: worry about ‘special rel’ and bitter about WWII

Question 8

Decolonisation: CONTINUATION (1)

Answer 8

Accelerated after ‘winds of change’ speech from Macmillan

Question 9

Decolonisation: REDUCTION OF MILITARY COMMITMENTS (2)

Answer 9

1964: economic reasons
Minister of Defence (Denis Healey) spending cut process to below £2 mill by 1970
1967: Defence white paper set timetable for withdrawal of troops from Aden, Yemen, Singapore, Malaysia

Question 10

Decolonisation: BRITAIN’S NUCLEAR DEFENCE (2)

Answer 10

Wilson valued Atlantic Alliance and in Britain continuing world role so no debate to give them up
Govt. announced it would continue to deploy US Polaris missiles— 1967 committed to upgrade

Question 11

Decolonisation: SUEZ WITHDRAWAL (3)

Answer 11

Drastic spending cuts after 1967 devaluation crisis
Troops pulled out of Aden, Malaysia, Singapore, Arabian Gulf by 1971
Development of new high tech warplane (TR2) was abandoned against Wilson’s wishes

Question 12

Decolonisation: RHODESIA- ‘Winds of Change’ Speech

Answer 12

Aimed at white minority accepting majority rule in govt
Not received well by white population in South Africa

Question 13

Decolonisation: RHODESIA- Federation of Rhodesia & Nyasaland

Answer 13

1963: Federation of Rhodesia & Nyasaland broke into separate entities
1964: northern Rhodesia— independent state called Zambia
1964: Nyasaland— independent state of Malawi

Question 14

Decolonisation: RHODESIA- Political Row Over Southern Rhodesia (4)

Answer 14

SR wanted independence but not majority rule
1965: PM Ian Smith signed Unilateral Declaration of Independence w/out accepting maj. rule
Wilson attempted diplomacy but Smith just ignored everything said
967: Wilson implemented oil sanctions but SR just got oil from neighbouring countries

Question 15

Decolonisation: RHODESIA- Success? (4)

Answer 15

Oct 1968: more talks but Smith felt stronger, not weaker
Diplomacy got Wilson nowhere
Situation upset Commonwealth, Labour left wing
Made Britain look weak

Question 16

Rel. With USA: SUCCESS- Yes (4)

Answer 16

• rel. remained strong during Vietnam Wsr
• stayed united over communism fear
• Wilson pro-American & Atlantic Alliance
• Polaris missiles to US & upgraded them

Question 17

Rel. With USA: SUCCESS- No (2)

Answer 17

• America annoyed by no military support
• Britain depended on US financially

Question 18

Rel. With EEC: SUCCESS- Yes (2)

Answer 18

• 1966: Labour agreed to back application
• gained support in other countries when touring

Question 19

Rel. With EEC: SUCCESS- No (2)

Answer 19

• couldn’t promise to leave rel. w. USA
• vetoed by DeGualle again

Question 20

Rel w. Empire/Commonwealth: SUCCESS- Yes (2)

Answer 20

• Malawi & Zambia accepted majority rule and gained independence
• decolonisation was a success

Question 21

Rel w. Empire/Commonwealth: SUCCESS- No (3)

Answer 21

• Rhodesia didn’t accept maj. rule and PM refused to listen to Wilson
• couldn’t enforce oil sanctions
• South Africa had strained rel. w. Britain after

Question 22

Britain’s International Status: SUCCESS- Yes (4)

Answer 22

-kept nuclear deterrent
- kept rel. w. USA
- member of NATIONAL
- decolonisation relatively successful

Question 23

Britain’s International Status: SUCCESS- No (3)

Answer 23

• Ian Smith made Britain look weak
• reduction of military commitments made Britain look weak
• dependent on America still