Wilson and Foreign Policy Flashcards
1
Q
What did Wilson do in terms of EEC?
A
- re-apply
2
Q
What were the reasons Wilson applied for EEC membership?
A
- Britain’s economic problems contrasted with the sustained growth rates of continental states
+ EEC continued to develop - The “Friendly Five” keen to resolve relations with Britain
- George Brown wanted integrated Europe –> made DEA leading organisation in development of Pro-European policy
3
Q
How did the left respond against the EEC?
A
- insisted EEC membership would increase food prices and damage balance of payments due to imports from Europe
- Regarded EEC as “capitalist club”
- By 1965-1967 polls showed public wanted EEC membership
4
Q
What were the arguments over supranationalism?
A
- Wilson wanted supranationalism reduced for membership to work
- Wilson thought he could work with De Gaulle and could build a “Europe of States”
- Foreign office didn’t agree
5
Q
Following 1966 election how was the discussion for European integration?
A
- Following 1966 election + increased majority Wilson gave free rein to the debate
- Appeared even handed but debates focused on Britain meeting entry requirements (Wilson outmanoeuvred opponents on left)
6
Q
How did EEC talks go following 1966 election?
A
- badly
- Denis Healey accused de Gaulle of being a ‘bad ally’ when French troops were withdrawn from NATO and had to publicly apologise
- The French said sterling –> devalued prior to Britians entry
7
Q
What economic event caused a movement towards EEC?
A
- July Crisis –> resulted in July package + britain needed to enter to solve long term problems
- after this Wilson more openly pro-market
8
Q
What were the reasons for the movement towards the EEC in 1967?
A
Wilson needed to:
- Placate brown and pro-marketeers
- placate the left who were anti-market Eg barbara c
- please president Johnson who spoke in favour of United Europe in Nato
- improve britains economy
- gain influence over EEC policies and weaken supranationalism
- strengthens Britains technological developments
- outmanoeuvre heath + conservatives - wanted EEC entry
9
Q
Why did Wilson’s application fail?
A
- May 1967 de Gaulle announced British membership –> upset EEC
- Still concerned over Britain’s commitment to USA rather than Europe
- Critisised wilson for seeking hasty entry as a way to resolve economic difficulties + motives purely selfish economic
- EEC meeting other EEC states favoured britain but didn’t want to alienate france
- Devaluation again gave good reason to veto entry again
- EEC had more to lose than gain by allowing EFTA states to access common market
10
Q
What were the consequences of Wilson’s failed application?
A
- Disaster
- forced to devaluate pound then EEC door slammed in face
- Thought could manipulate de gaulle - didn’t work
- Wilson paid price –> falling public esteem and blame from left + right
- De Gaulle resigned 1969 - other problems eg cap remained
- Wilson continued negotiations
11
Q
What was the problem with Wilsons government and Rhodesia?
A
- Harold Wilson faced the Unilateral Declaration of Rhodesian Independence by the white majority government of Ian Smith in 1965
- Illegal Smith regime posed severe difficulties presenting major challenge to British authority and claims of sovereignty
12
Q
Why was it difficult to try and solve the problem with Rhodesia?
A
- To hand problem to UN would be an abdication of British responsibilities and that was unacceptable to a country that aspired Great Power Status
- Removing smiths regime by military force would have overstretched Britain’s millitary capability + split parliament - only majority of 4
13
Q
Why did Wilson and labour want to help in Rhodesia?
A
- Wilson morally committed to settlement in Rhodesia that would ensure peaceful transition to majority black African rule
- Labour took stronger line on racial issues and on self determination for native populations of former colonies
14
Q
What did Labour do in Rhodesia?
A
- applied sanctions to bring regime on knees
- less impressive than it seemed
- South Africa kept trading with Rhodesia
- The Rhodesian Government thus kept going without much internal difficulty
15
Q
What was Wilson critisised for doing in relation to Rhodesia?
A
- Contravened of sanctions by British Oil Companies
- Ben Pimlott criticised Wilson for publicly declaring that military force would not be used to solve Rhodesia problem –> gave smith confidence
16
Q
What became apparent about the situation in Rhodesia?
A
- By summer of 1966 became clear collapse would take years rather than months
- Eventually long after Wilson it did
- Pimlott argues that survival of Smith Regime became a testament to Britains importence and fallen status
17
Q
Why did Britain want to continue a world role in mid 1960s?
A
- national prestige
- post imperial sense of national purpose
- contribute to western struggle against communism
- guarantee american financial support when british economy suffered
- british forces stationed in east of suec over a century
18
Q
What did britains obligations globally require for millitary forces?
A
- britains Treaty obligations e,g bagdad pact 1955 and SEATO 1954 meant millitary forces to be maintained:
- The far east
- the middle east
- southern africa
- the Mediterranean
19
Q
Up to 1966 how did britains defence change or not change?
A
- Wilson still defending needs to maintain britains global role despite unpopularity within labour
- britain remained over extended
- continued nuclear stuff
20
Q
Crucial turning point with east of suez?
A
- The crucial turning point with ‘Empire circle’ defence policy announced in Jan 1968 that all British millitary forced would be withdrawn from east of Suez by end of 1971
21
Q
How did defence policy in suez change?
A
- 1966 a Defence Review recommended defence spending be cut from 7% to 6% of GNP by 1970 together with an end to millitary overstretch
22
Q
In the early 1960s how what were the statistics showing forces being sent to spots around the globe? What was concluded from this?
A
- Britain sent emergency forces to 8 trouble-spots around globe in 1963
- In 1964 there were 16
- 1965 there were 17
- could not be tolerated indefinitely and once decision to withdraw forces from east of suez events moved rapidly
23
Q
Britain began to withdraw its troops following withdrawal from suez - describe these changes:
A
- December 1967 British forces withdraw from Aden
- June 1970 British HQ Far Eastern Command closed
- Agreed in 1972 that UK would cease to have forces in SEATO
- Dec 1971 British forces in Persian Gulf withdrawn
- 1970 and 1972 Libya ends Angle-Libyan Defence agreement
- By 1974 Britain’s world role virtually abandoned –> shifted away from empire towards europe
24
Q
Why did Britain withdraw from east suez?
cost
A
main reason: cost
- Britain could not afford to make effective contributions to the defence of Western Europe + maintain a powerful military presence in the Gulf and Far East
- with empire gone - interest towards europe
- changing pattern of trade - export market dramatically shifts from empire to europe
25
Why did Britain withdraw from east suez?
colonies and terrortories
- Decolonisation and increasing european focus of britains trade meant bases at Aden, Singapore, Gulf + south africa no longer necessary
- Even if Britain could no longer effectively protect Western interests east of Suez - reliable allies who could - australia and new zealand --> security of Malaya and SIngapore
- USA --> indian ocean
- Iran and USA intervention in gulf
26
Why did Britain withdraw from east suez?
Change in necessity of britain's occupation
- Control of worldwide military bases looked increasingly irrelevant british withdrawal no longer as risky as decade earlier (with cold war)
- without appearing irresponsible and did not leave a power vacuum for soviet takeover
27
Why did Britain withdraw from east suez?
Financial constraints?
- GDP per capita Britain declined from seventh in world league table in 1950 to twelfth by 1965
- overtaken by france germany and denmark
- Britain was spending a higher proportion of GDP on defence than any major industrial competitors (apart from US)
- Treasury demanded cuts in defence spending
- in 1965 britain had over 55,000 millitary personnel East of Suez, costing £317m a year - 15% of total defence budget
28
Why did Britain withdraw from east suez?
A further short term factor
- sterling crisis - enormous pressure for cuts in public spending
