1964-70 British History FP
- Created by: H@r/3y
- Created on: 29-09-20 15:36
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- Foreign Policy 1964-70
- 'special relationship'
- Wilson=pro-american, supporter of atlantic alliance
- cold war was ongoing
- wanted to ensure US stayed committed to defending europe
- possible soviet threat highlighted by invasion of czechoslovakia to stop communist regime from being diluted there
- vietnam strained relationship
- begun 1955, support escalated after 1964. ended 1975
- from escalation LBJ wanted support and approval from US allies
- Aussies sent troops and LBJ wanted GB to do same
- Wilson resisted direct involvement despite good relationship
- difficult balancing act for wilson: wanted to keep Atlantic Alliance , but the war was very unpopular in GB
- -especially with left so risked losing politiacl support if too for it
- also couldnt really afford military involvement
- GB couldn't afford but needed US support to support value of sterling and avoid devaluation-couldn't alienate US
- in end policy= giving moral support without military support
- annoyed US-wanted more backing; and Labour MPs/supporters who wanted labour gov to condemn the US
- wanted to ensure US stayed committed to defending europe
- Europe and EEC
- Labour gov into power 1964- not committed to carry on Tory policy of EEC entry
- 1962, Gaitskell fought against the first application telling party conference;
- 'it would be the end of a thousand years of history'
- opposition= based on fear the EEC was a step towards a federal political union
- many on labour left (Michael Foot/Barbara Castle) and unions= hostile
- saw it as club for capitalists, preventing GB from following socialist policies
- BUT also some Europhiles (Roy Jenkins/ George Brown)
- Brown= foreign secretary in 1966
- Wilson= ambivalent. preferred Atlantic Alliance and stronger CW links, but saw strengths of EEC economically. Also contious to keep labour united on issue
- By 1966, wilson= more convinced of economic arguments
- October, his cabinet agreed to back new application- prospectus of success weren't good
- bid seemed half hearted due to labour doubts
- De Gaulle still President-little sign of mind change
- Due to poor chance, Lleft opposers didnt feel need to voice their discontent too much
- October, his cabinet agreed to back new application- prospectus of success weren't good
- Wilson and Brown- Paris Jan 1967. Thought went well. Toured other countires for support.
- June 1967- back to Paris. Gaulle put him on spot over detaching from 'special relationship'
- Wilson wouldnt do this- November rejected again
- June 1967- back to Paris. Gaulle put him on spot over detaching from 'special relationship'
- Decolonisation
- Withdrawal 'East of Suez'
- Withdrawl accelerated after devaluation in 1967 and spending cuts that followed in 1968- Roy Jenkins
- troops pulled out of Aden, Arabian Gulf, Malaysia, Singapore by end of 1971
- dispite wishes of wilson and Healey- developing high-tech warplane TSR2 were abandoned
- Withdrawl accelerated after devaluation in 1967 and spending cuts that followed in 1968- Roy Jenkins
- Rhodesia
- Mac made speech in cape town to target white minority regimes who thought they could resist reform- not the colonial people who wanted independence
- regimes- not persuaded, and speech seen as challenge/ threat
- 1963, federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland broke up into three seperate entities
- 1964, N Rhodesia became new independent state of Zambie; Nyasaland -independent Malawi
- S hoped for independence but GB made clear it couldnt happen until majority rule replaced political domination by whites.
- (1961 S. Africa rejected majority rule idea, left CW, towards more apartheid system where strict segregation between whites and non-whites)
- S hoped for independence but GB made clear it couldnt happen until majority rule replaced political domination by whites.
- 1964, N Rhodesia became new independent state of Zambie; Nyasaland -independent Malawi
- Ian Smith became PM, 1965 and issued a Unilateral Declaration of Independence for Rhodesiawithout accepting majority rule= political row
- his actions directly challenged L gov
- Wilson hoped to reach conclusion quickly by oil sanctions/negotiations
- met on HMS TIger Dec 1966- seemed to go well but Smith disavowed everything when he got back
- 1967, oil sanctions didnt work either = frustration with wilson
- too easy for rhodesia to get supplies through Portuguese colony of Mozambique and big companies ignored policy
- S Africa continued trade with Rhodesia
- talks on HMS Fearless Oct 1968 made Smith seem stronger not weaker
- he also believed he had support of right of conservative Party and just needed to wait for GB to give in
- Wilson's diplomacy got nowhere, situation upset CW and many Labour left. Also made britain look weak.
- Mac made speech in cape town to target white minority regimes who thought they could resist reform- not the colonial people who wanted independence
- Withdrawal 'East of Suez'
- 'special relationship'
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