The Thaw And Moves Towards Detente, 1963-72

Question 1

Steps and Treaties towards Detente, 1963-1968

Answer 1

As a result of the Cuban Missile Crisis Scare:

• 1963 Hotline (Direct communication between White House and Kremlin ) and Limited Test ban Treaty (Knowledge of danger of radioactive fallout increased, treaty to stop contamination outside borders between usa Britain and ussr, later 113 countries signed).
• 1967 outer space treaty. Stopped arms race spreading into space: no weapons on celestial bodies, only peaceful purposes, responsibility for contamination or damage of space, drawn up by usa, Britain and ussr, later signed by 12 other countries.
• 1968 Nuclear non-proliferation treaty
  Signed by 61 states, divided countries into NWS and NNWS, working towards disarmament.

Question 2

USA’s view on Detente

Answer 2

In 1968, Nixon became president, and detente became an option.

Reasons for USA: wanted to focus on ending vietnam war (60,000 soldiers killed usa, $170 billion spent) , address social problems like riots in 1968 (about inequality and civil rights, martin Luther king assassination) , nuclear development is expensive, Nixon had personal ambition to reduce Cold War tension, concern over china’s growing power

Question 3

USSRs view on Detente

Answer 3

Reasons for USSR: poor living standards, economy not developing, nuclear development is expensive (30% gdp on defence vs usa 13%), want access to western technology, concern between usa and China friendship

Question 4

China’s role

Answer 4

China and soviet relations worsened:

• the Sino-Soviet treaty was in 1950 ($300 mill in aid and promise of military assistance from ussr to china in case of war)
• Mao felt his delegates had been treated poorly however the two countries remained allies and fought together in Korean War
• When Stalin died, Khrushchev and Mao didn’t get along in 1958
• There was fighting at the Sino-Soviet border in 1969, so China began getting close with USA
• 1949-1969 USA and China relations were bad: disagreement over Taiwan, Korean War, etc
• Table Tennis Match, Kissinger Met with Chinese Prime-Minister 1971 (ping-pong diplomacy)
• Feb 1972, Nixon met Mao in Beijing and they agreed on Taiwan: ‘Shanghai Communique’

Question 5

Detente, Ostpolitik and SALT 1

Answer 5

• 1969, Brandt was selected chancellor of west Germany and encouraged Ostopolik
• May 1972, the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty between USA and USSR;

= Only two Anti-Ballistic Missiles in each country, max 100 missiles each
= Limited ICBMs in the INterim Treaty
= Basic Principles Agreement rules for nuclear warfare

Weaknesses: if war was likely, it was unlikely to be obeyed, didn’t cover new technology like MIRVs

However: overall positive impact, 1973, Brezhnev went to Washington, SALT 2 negotiations followed in 1979