The 50's -Foreign Policy Flashcards
What was the main purpose of the schuman plan (1950)?
- Integrate French and German industry
- -> economic reconstruction and prevent War.
How did the Shuman plan (1950) relate to the EEC?
-Foundation for the EEC
Why did Britain not join the EEC?
- Few politicians were in favour of the leadership role that was on offer
- Left =Suspicious of free market principles
- Right= Trade links with commonwealth more important
- Britain wanted to balance it’s special relationship with U.S.A
What treaty launched the EEC without Britain?
-Treaty of Rome (1957)
Why was EFTA ( outer severn)n not as successful?
Did not see same levels of economic growth as EEC
What caused Macmillans U Turn on the EEC?
-Application 1961. Macmillan hoped joining would increase industrial efficiency
Why did De Gaulle Veto Britain’s application in 61?
-Wanted to preserve Partnerships from U.S influence
How can British dependency be see in the cuban missile crisis?
Britain viewed as Bystanders–> America took lead action
How was America dependent on the UK over european influence?
-U.S.A’s sphere of influence was through Britain (dependency)
What was the burges and Mclean affair?
-Two British officials defected to soviet union after being caught spying on the British government for 20 years +
What was the political impact of the Burges and Mclean affair?
-America feared that Britain leaked vital info to soviets
–> Strain of Special relationship-> Americans less ready to share intel
How can Britain be viewed as not dependent on the U.S concerning nuclear arms?
U.S stopped sharing nuclear secrets
-Independent nuclear tests
=> atom bomb 1952 , H bomb 1957
What agreements lead to the resharing of nuclear technology between Britain and the U.S.A
-Washington Agreements (1957)
–> No longer independendent tech (Mutual defence agreement)
How can British nuclear dependency on the U.S bee seen after the washington agreements after 1957?
-Blue streak = too expensive, replaced with polaris (dependent on American sub weapon systems.
How could the Mutual defence act be viewed as a partnership rather than British dependence?
American ICBM’s stationed in Britain -> Vital For U.S cold war policy.
How can the Korean War be seen as Britain lending the U.S a helping hand?
-Britain =second largest contingent (Sent 90,000 troops)
How can Britain be seen acting independently on the world stage?
- Key leading figure of UN and Nato
- Successful Decolonization policy
How could economic dependence be seen on the U.S?
-U.S Marshall plan
What happened in the events of the suez crisis?
Brit and U.S pull funding from Aswan damn –>Nassar nationalised suez
=> would Harm oil prices (Vital trade route)
Britain, Israel and Egypt conspire to seize damn through guise of “Peace keeping mission”
What were the economic effects of the Suez Crisis?
-Emphasised Britain’s economic dependence on middle Eastern oil
=> sanctions on 80% of import of oil -> run on the pound
-> Application for IMF loan
What were the political impact of the suez crisis?
- Questioned Britain’s force for good in the world. Untrustworthy
- Emphasised Britain’s inability to act diplomatically on word stage (Independent of the U.S)
- Alienated European partners-> increasing dependency on U.S
Why did the process of decolonisation take place?
-After ww2 Britain no longer had the financial means to support it’s colonies
What effect did the suez crisis have on decolonization?
-Sped up the process
What did Mac’s wings of change speech call for?
- Recorginition of indepence movements
- Majority rule
- Not to fall in to trap of communism
