The Sixties Foreign Policy

Question 1

Europe

Answer 1

• 2nd rejection to the EEC = 1967 (Vetoed by De Gaulle - A shock, as Wilson and George Brown went to meet him in early 1967)
• Labour Left - Saw the EEC as a ‘capitalists’ club’ (Barbara Castle)
• Europhiles = Supported the EEC - Roy Jenkins
• More of a focus on the ‘special relationship’ - Europe becoming a more divided issue?

Question 2

Special Relationship

Answer 2

• Wilson was keen supporter of the special relationship and wanted to ensure that the US were committed in helping defend Britain against communism
• It was under strain from the vietnam war though as wilson didn’t want to have any direct military involvement as he was trying to walk a tightrope with pleasing the people and the US
• Wilson needed the USA to avoid devaluation
• Ultimately strained with the USA as they wanted more backing, and people at home who wanted the USA to be condemned

Question 3

Commonwealth / Decolonisation

Answer 3

• Withdraw for ‘East of Suez’ from 1964
• Problems in Rhodesia with white minority rule under Ian Smith
• Oil sanctions got nowhere
• Talks between Smith and Wilson in 1968 got nowhere - Upset the Commonwealth and made Britain look weak - More evidence of Wilson’s ‘tightrope’ approach!

Question 4

Northern Ireland

Answer 4

• Civil Rights marches in 1968 - Catholics conflicted with RUC
• Operation Banner begins in 1969
  Unionists - supporting union with Britain, Nationalists supporting a united Ireland
• Catholics in Northern Ireland were being discriminated against, even the police said to have a bias against them
• Paramilitaries set up, worries about the IRA
• Apprentice boys attacked on annual march causing days of rioting

Question 5

Foreign Policy Overall

Answer 5

• Withdrawal from east suez to cut back on the defence budget
• Developments of a new high tech warplane were abandoned as well due to the devaluation crisis
• Rhodesia - ian smith declaring independence without the majority rule, challenging Lab gov