THATCHER 1979-90 CHAPTER 16 Flashcards
foreign affairs
THE FALKLANDS
- Has been a British colony and naval base since 1833.
- Ownership of the islands had been claimed by Argentina since
independence in 1817 based on previous Spanish claims.
THE FALKLANDS
- By 1970s, the islands no longer had much strategic inheritance, and the foreign office was prepared to negotiate with Argentina over the future of the British Isles, but the islanders were keen to
remain British.
THE FALKLANDS
- 1981 foreign secretary lord Carrington approved the withdrawal of HMS Endurance, leaving south Atlantic
without British naval presence.
THE FALKLANDS
- The Argentinian military group in power since 1976 too this as a hint that Britain was letting the Falkland’s off.
- The leader general Gualtieri
did what
sent an invasion force to occupy the islands claiming Argentinean sovereignty.
THE FALKLANDS
wining back the islands by force would be difficult and dangerous; but despite this, thatcher immediately announced that a naval task force would be set to
remove Argentinian forces and assert the right of the islanders to self-determination.
THE FALKLANDS
thatcher’s decision sent her previously unpopular government
soaring in the opinion polls, and the patriotic national mood took most people including TV reporters at the scene.
THE FALKLANDS
- 2 may - chances of a peaceful settlement disappeared when a British submarine sank an Argentinian battleship causing heavy losses of life.
- Many applauded the action, but anti-war protesters claimed..
that the sinking had been unnecessary and designed to finish of the chances of a peaceful outcome.
THE FALKLANDS
- It was also necessary to get assurances of support from the United States would be impossible to fight battles 8000 miles from home without the use of American bases like Ascension Island.
- Unlike Suez in 1956,
the Americans gave the green light to go ahead strengthened the special relationship and the personal ties between Thatcher and Reagan.
THE FALKLANDS
- American diplomatic intervention was crucial in preventing the Argentine forces from obtaining enough missiles to severely weaken the British task force.
- On 21 May,
British troops landed at San Carlos Water, the passage between East and West Falkland.
THE FALKLANDS
- Once the landings were secured, however, victory was certain.
- The Argentine forces
surrendered on 14 June.
THE FALKLANDS
The impact on Britain’s foreign position was less clear-cut:
2 sides
- Thatcher’s critics believed that the war was unnecessary because Britain would sooner or later end up negotiating a deal with Argentina over the Falklands.
- On the other hand, the psychological impact was important.
THE FALKLANDS
In the 1970s, Britain’s international position had seemed to be in decline; now there was a resurgence of national pride in Britain.
this was not true for everyone - why
This was not true for everyone: some objected to the gloating of the tabloids and what they saw as Thatcher’s triumphalism in celebrating victory as if it was the Second World War all over again.
THE FALKLANDS
Diplomatic relations with Argentina reopened in
when - what did this mean
1989
Overall, the Falklands was merely a blip in world affairs.
THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH USA
There was a strong bond between Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan, both personal and ideological.
how
Both were from the generation whose lives had been shaped by the Second World War - Thatcher was particularly influenced by her wartime memories. Her view of twentieth-century history revolved around the idea that American armies had twice ridden to the rescue after those Europeans had made a mess of things.
THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH USA
Throughout the 1980s, on issues such as the Falklands War, deploying Cruise missiles and being tough with the USSR, the Thatcher- Reagan link was powerful.
example - in 1986
Thatcher gave permission for the US to use British air bases to bomb Libya despite it being an unpopular decision in Britain.
THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH USA
However, there were still some differences
- give an example
in 1983 the US invaded Grenada after a Communist coup against the advice of Thatcher.
MOVES TO END THE COLD WAR
By the late 1970s the West seemed to be losing the Cold War.
how?
When Soviet forces invaded Afghanistan in 1979, it was thought in the West that this was a dangerous threat to Western interests.
THATCHER AND THE SECOND COLD WAR 1979-85
Nobody in the West knew how weak the Soviet Union was at this time.
Between 1979 and 1981, three new ‘cold warriors’ emerged
who?
, a British prime minister, a Polish Pope, and an American president, each determined to challenge Soviet power, both militarily and ideologically.
MOVES TO END THE COLD WAR
After the opening of Soviet archives from 1991, it became obvious that the Soviet Union was on its last legs by the early 1980s, hopelessly overstretched militarily and led by
a generation of old men eking out the last days of their power.
THATCHER AND THE SECOND COLD WAR 1979-85
1983 200, 000 people marched with CND in London to oppose nuclear weapons.
Similar demonstrations were held across Europe, including one with
600,000 people in West Germany.
THATCHER AND THE SECOND COLD WAR 1979-85
The new Cold War began. It was marked by tough rhetoric and rising tension.
Thatcher’s willingness to support the United States can be seen by her agreement to the deployment of US cruise missiles in Britain.
what were they? what did they do
Cruise missiles were remote-controlled rockets carrying powerful warheads and capable of hitting targets from many hundreds of miles away. They were later to play a prominent part in the First Gulf War of 1991. Stationing the missiles in Britain was part of the deliberate policy of deterrence: stoking up the pressure on the USSR and convincing the Brezhnev regime that it was impossible to keep pace with the West in the new high-technology arms race.
THATCHER’S INVOLVEMENT IN ENDING THE COLD WAR 1985-87
Margaret Thatcher’s contribution to ending the Cold War rested on three pillars:
- her combative style and determination to confront the USSR in the early 1980s.
- her willingness to negotiate with the new reformist Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, from 1985
- above all, the fact that Thatcher’s foreign policy was founded on Britain’s special relationship with the United States.
THATCHER’S INVOLVEMENT IN ENDING THE COLD WAR 1985-87
Gorbachev became leader of the Soviet Union in 1985.
He was a realist who knew things could not go on as they were.
Gorbachev made a remarkable impression on the hard-line conservatives, Thatcher and Reagan
what did she say about him
Thatcher met Gorbachev for the first time in 1984 and declared herself to be impressed. ‘I like Mr Gorbachev’, she said, ‘He and I can do business together.
THATCHER’S INVOLVEMENT IN ENDING THE COLD WAR 1985-87
Thatcher encouraged Reagan to negotiate with Gorbachev and in 1986, at the Reykjavik summit, Reagan and Gorbachev discovered that
each was prepared to make compromises. Although that meeting ended without agreement, it paved the way for future progress.
THATCHER’S INVOLVEMENT IN ENDING THE COLD WAR 1985-87
1987 the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty was signed in Washington. This historic treaty
did what
limited short-range weapons and began a process of mutual disarmament.
The Cold War had not yet ended but for the first time in many years it appeared an end might be possible.
THATCHER AND BRITAIN’S RELATIONSHIP WITH EUROPE
Thatcher’s relations with the EEC were marked by many contradictions.
handbag diplomacy
- There were occasions when her ‘handbag diplomacy’ caused consternation and ruffled the consensual politics favoured by other European leaders.
THATCHER AND BRITAIN’S RELATIONSHIP WITH EUROPE
but there were also many issues on which Britain cooperated closely with Europe:
channel tunnel project
- Thatcher established a good working relationship with the French president, Mitterrand (president from 1981 to 1995). They cooperated closely over the Channel Tunnel project, which was agreed in 1986 (opening in 1994). Sharing in the creation of such a symbolic link between Britain and France was hardly proof of any anti- Europeanism on Thatcher’s part.
THATCHER AND BRITAIN’S RELATIONSHIP WITH EUROPE
- Thatcher’s firs priority in Europe was to secure a better deal for Britain over financial contributions to the EEC
why
Britain was paying in much more to the EEC than being returned in benefits.
THATCHER AND BRITAIN’S RELATIONSHIP WITH EUROPE
- Thatcher’s persistent campaign for Britain to be given a rebate (paid back) eventually achieved success in 1984.
impact?
It played well to her supporters at home but irritated some of her European partners.
THATCHER AND BRITAIN’S RELATIONSHIP WITH EUROPE
- In 1986 Thatcher negotiated the Single European Act with the other members of the EEC this was the most important piece of European legislation since the United Kingdom had joined. Thatcher was enthusiastic about the Single European Market when it was negotiated in 1985 to 1986.
what did it mean?
- It changed the Assembly into the European Parliament and mentioned the possibility of future European monetary union (a shared currency across the European Union. The Maastricht Treaty set out the conditions for this. It came into being in 1999).
THATCHER AND BRITAIN’S RELATIONSHIP WITH EUROPE
pros and cons of the single european market?
- For Thatcher and her supporters, it would make a free market in Europe a reality.
- But at the same time, in hindsight, it is obvious that it also surrendered some elements of British sovereignty.
THATCHER AND BRITAIN’S RELATIONSHIP WITH EUROPE
- In 1987 it was clear that the Conservative Party still appeared to be
pro or anti europe?
a broadly pro-European party and Britain’s future was clearly within the EEC.
DIVISIONS WITHIN THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY OVER EUROPE
- When Thatcher first became prime minister the divisions in the Conservative Party were between the ‘wets’ and the ‘dries’.
who became dominating?
- As the decade progressed the ‘dries’ started to dominate the Conservative Party. Thatcherite ideas had prevailed.
DIVISIONS WITHIN THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY OVER EUROPE
- Electoral successes in 1983 and 1987 and the improvements in the economy vindicated Thatcher’s leadership. The Conservative Party appeared
united behind their leader.
DIVISIONS WITHIN THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY OVER EUROPE
- it was not apparent that a serious schism would emerge over Europe. During the early 1980s, most cabinet ministers were
pro-European and favoured its expansion.
DIVISIONS WITHIN THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY OVER EUROPE
- The creation and strengthening of a free market across the members of the European Economic Community was in line with Thatcherite economic goals.
what was the westland affair was about?
the Westland affair was, in part, about whether European ties should be encouraged above other ties.
DIVISIONS WITHIN CONSERVATIVES OVER EUROPE - The Westland affair, 1986
On the surface, the Westland affair was about who would take over the failing British helicopter company Westland. However, what this dispute really showed were
deep divisions about the role in government in economic decisions, Thatcher’s style of leadership and Britain’s relationship with Europe.
DIVISIONS WITHIN CONSERVATIVES OVER EUROPE - The Westland affair, 1986
what did thacther and heseltine want?
difference between who they wanted the takeover from
Michael Heseltine, the Defence Secretary, favoured a takeover from a European consortium.
Thatcher favoured no interference from government even if that meant the company would go to the US company Sikorsky.
DIVISIONS WITHIN CONSERVATIVES OVER EUROPE - The Westland affair, 1986
Heseltine believed that Thatcher blocked discussion about the decision in cabinet and would not let concerns about a US takeover be made public.
what did he then do?
He stormed out of a cabinet meeting and resigned.
Thatcher later said that this crisis was the closest she ever came to resigning.
DIVISIONS WITHIN CONSERVATIVES OVER EUROPE - The Westland affair, 1986
However, when the Single European Act was debated in Britain, there were only a few Conservative backbenchers such as
who spoke against it
Enoch Powell who spoke against it.
THATCHER AS AN INTERNATIONAL FIGURE
Margaret Thatcher was not very experienced in foreign affairs when she became prime minster.
By 1987 she was a respected stateswoman:
nickname? why?
Her tough stance against the Soviets earned her the nickname the Iron Lady and she gained admiration across the world for being instrumental in bringing Gorbachev and Reagan together.
THATCHER AS AN INTERNATIONAL FIGURE
Supporters pointed to her revival of the special relationship with the USA.
Other people thought she would not stand up to Reagan;
what did the Labour politician Denis Healey call her and why?
called her ‘Reagan’s poodle’ and Enoch Powell, for example, feared the UK was becoming a satellite of the USA.
THATCHER AS AN INTERNATIONAL FIGURE
Her combative style in Europe won Britain a rebate, although this style also limited her allies.
But at the same time, she had shown herself willing to
work with her European allies in strengthening the EEC.
