Topic 1: FP (1951-64) Flashcards
1
Q
6
Describe Britain’s foreign policy in 1951
A
- Churchill’s ‘Three Great Circles’
- Founding member of NATO in 1949
- non-white dominions allowed into Commonwealth after 1945
- ‘Special relationship’ to ideologically combat Soviet Union
- Overstretched military - prescence in over 40 countries, despite financial constraints
- Self-determination successively denied despite nationalist consensus rising
2
Q
5
Describe earlier British disinterest in Europe
A
- Churchill supported USE - but envisaged Britain as sponsor
- Britain did not join the ‘six’ of ECSC at Treaty of Paris 1951
- France’s rejection of EDC confirmed Churchill’s doubts over supranational European army
- Messina Talks failed - Treaty of Rome 1957 led to EEC formation without Britain
- EFTA formation in 1960
3
Q
5
Describe the ECSC formation
A
- Formed at Treaty of Paris 1951, based off Schuman Plan 1950 (between France and West Germany only)
- Single market for coal and steel, with no customs duties
- Established political institutions such as the council of ministers, court of justice and parliamentary assembly
- Fears from left about free-market principles of bloc harming workers’s rights - Hebert Morrisson ‘the Durham Miners won’t wear it’
- Atlee regarded Commonwealth trade links more important
Six - West Germany, France, Italy and Benelux
4
Q
6
Describe the Messina Talks
A
- Talks of extension of ECSC to transport and atomic energy
- Britain sent ‘Spaak Committee’ to steer events, but not join
- Failed - agreements developed in detail and EEC launched with Treaty of Rome 1957
- Eden claimed he was ‘bored’ by talks
- Treasury fearful of losing economic sovreignty
- Britain lost opportunity to shape organisation
5
Q
4
Describe the EFTA
A
- Trade pact of 7 nations (e.g. Austria, Denmark, Portugal)
- Moderate growth compared to EEC
- Few economic advanatges to britain as it was the group’s largest member by far
- in 60s, British trade with EEC higher than trade with EFTA
formed in 1960, agreed in 1959
6
Q
2
Describe EEC application and rejection (1951-64)
A
- Macmillan applied in 1961
- De Gaulle vetoed entry in 1963
7
Q
5
Describe how economic factors led to EEC application in 1961
A
- 1961 - for first time exports to comparatively dynamic Europe greater than Commonwealth
- Britain only large economy in EFTA
- Balance of payments crisis and lower growth in 1957
- by 1958, West Germany had overtaken Britain as an exporter of manufactured goods
- Federation of British Industry became more receptive - hoped access to large-scale market would boost industrial production
8
Q
5 (inc Suez and decolonisation)
Describe how the fall of the empire led to EEC application in 1961
A
- The Suez Crisis and rapid decolonisation in Africa had hampered Britain’s international reputation and thus global influence
- UN GA had voted to denounce Britain as an international aggressor by 64 votes to 5 following invasion of Egypt (1956)
- Fall of empire had become inevitable, also due to economic factors - so membership of EEC was seen as new way to maintain leading influence in global affairs
- EEC, with its supranationalism, would become an essential political powerhouse over the next decades
- Also weakened trade links to former Empire countries meant new economic relationships needed
9
Q
5
Describe how other FP factors led to EEC application in 1961
A
- Rising cold war tensions (e.g. Soviet invasion Hungary 1956)
- US supported British influence to thwart communist spread - Macmillan keen to please Kennedy
- Macmillan’s Grand Design (1960)
- Britain could not influence EEC-decision making through EFTA, had to join main bloc
- Blue Streak abandoned in 1960, American Polaris missiles would support UK
10
Q
3
Describe how political factors led to EEC application in 1961
A
- Macmillan attempted to appease softer members of party - e.g. promotion of two ministers
- Deepen Lab divisions - adopted official anti-EEC stance at 1962 conference, despite lack of consensus on issue
- Broadsheet papers voiced support in early 60s
11
Q
3
Describe evidence of political changes that led to EEC application in 1961
A
- 1957 - Macmillan appointed two pro-European ministers to treasury and board of trade
- Promoted europhile Ted Heath and gave him responsibilities for examining the potential impact of joining EEC
- Grand Design
12
Q
2
What was Macmillan’s Grand Design memo (1960)
A
- sought to consolidate Western solidarity in face of rising Communist forces
- inc British entry to EEC as component
13
Q
7
Describe how De Gaulle led to EEC rejection in 1963
A
- Vetoed application in 1963
- Long-held resentment
- Unconvinced by half-hearted entry (right-wing Con MPs and Lab opposition)
- Creation of EFTA showed that Britain was not fully committed to European project
- Suspicions over ‘special relationship’
- Intended to keep France as main force in EEC - ‘five hens and one cockerel’ speech
- Delayed negotations for 2 years to achieve securer veto position
14
Q
5
Describe how American influence led to EEC rejection in 1963
A
- ‘Special relationship’ - undue foreign influence
- EEC intended to be Western counterforce to US
- In obtaining Polaris Missiles from USA at Nassau Talks, UK had confirmed dependency on US
- Macmillan’s 1960 Grand Design had set out his plan to maintain American relationship, while simultaneously drawing EFTA and EEC together
- Macmillan asked Kennedy for help to persuade De Gaulle
15
Q
6
Describe how Britain’s lacklustre application led to EEC rejection in 1963
A
- Messina Talks - Butler ’bored’
- Spaak Committee - limit European integration
- Creation of EFTA
- Britain overconfident in application - determined to safeguard national interest relating to America and Commonwealth - govt felt Europe need Britain more than Britain needed Europe
- Right-wing Con MPs opposed to EEC application due to CAP and supranationalism
- Talks became deadlocked over issues of CAP and Commonwealth trade
lack of consensus - which convinced De Gaulle to veto application
16
Q
4
Describe how Commonwealth relations led EEC rejection in 1963
A
- Rejected in 1955 to prevent damage to Commonwealth economies - instinct to protect their economies for fear of fall to Communism in the Cold War amid collapse of the British Empire
- Most Commonwelath nations wary that prospective British entry would damage their exports
- EFTA and Commonwealth had preferential claims and trade privileges e.g. priviledges of lamb exports from NZ would’ve been blocked by EEC rules
- Commonwealth African nations rejected socialy negotiated offer to become associated members of EEC in 1962
17
Q
4
How did CAP work?
A
- Worked by:
- restricting agricultural imports
- setting a common target price for agricultural produce
- thereby guaranteeing farmers’ incomes
- Largely based on French ideas
18
Q
7
Describe how CAP led to EEC rejection in 1963
A
- Britain would have to accept CAP if it joined the EEC
- Threatened to restrict cheap agricultural imports from Commonwealth which kept down cost of living
- Weaken Commonwealth trade links
- CAP would be costly to fund
- Little benefit to Britain as it had small agricultural sector
- Sig opposition from right-wing Con MPs
- Rather than reform CAP within EEC, Britain was determined to gain reassurances about its operation before its entry - led to long delay in entry talks
19
Q
5
What were the consequences of EEC rejection in 1963?
A
- Public humiliation at home and abroad
- Personal blow to Macmillan, who resigned later that year
- Some in Whitehall relieved that uncertainty was over, but Britain’s dilemma continue
- EEC continued to thrive and outstrip British exports and productivity
- It was clear that Britain would have to reapply, though with reduced bargaining power
20
Q
2
Describe Heathcoat-Amory’s attitude towards Europe
A
- CX 1958-60
- Concerned over loss of economic sovereignty
21
Q
6
Describe the Korean War
A
- 1950-1953
- In 1950, forces from North Korea (supported by the Soviet Union and China) invaded the South
- The UN condemned the action and sent UN forces to combat the invasion
- 20 countries supplied troops with Britain sending the second largest amount (90k soldiers)
- A ceasefire was agreed in 1953 - Korea would be split into communist North and non-communist South
- Over 1k British troops died
22
Q
4
Describe the effects of the Korean War
A
- Demonstrated Britain’s willingness to continue as a major world power despite economic constraints
- Made it clear the US was the greater power
- Giastkell suggested perscription charges to account for costs -> Bevan divisions
- In Jan 1951, planned expenditure of defence spending rose from 8% to 14% of GDP
23
Q
4
Describe Suez Canal importance to Britain
A
- Vital trading route linking Mediterranean and Middle East
- Suez Canal Company one of Britain’s most important strategic assets
- By 1950s, was used by hundreds of tankers each month, carrying oil to industrialised Europe
- British air and naval bases along Canal Zone had placed Soviet Union within range of military action by West
24
Q
5
List the causes of the Suez Crisis
A
- British Imperalist attitudes
- Actions of Eden
- Actions of Nasser
- Rise of Arab Nationalism
- The Cold War
25
Q
5
Describe how British Imperalist attitudes caused the Suez Crisis
A
- Egypt = former British colony (not in empire however)
- Despite draining wealth and resources in WW2, there had been no re-assessment of British FP
- Successive govts determined to preserve Britain’s status as major power
- Growing rift between Britain and Egypt - came to dominate British planning despite warnings from America
- Battle of ideals between leaders
26
Q
3
Describe how the actions of Eden caused the Suez Crisis
A
- Eden had been involved with troop withdrawal as FS in 1936, so had a personal interest (the agreement had been to remove all British troops by 1956 in return for Britain’s right of re-entry if the canal was threatened by war)
- Held traditional imperialist views and belief of inflated world status - disliked Nasser and Egyptian nationalism
- After reminiscences to appeasement, Eden, who likened Nasser to Mussolini or Hitler, would not make concessions
27
Q
4
Describe the Baghdad Pact 1955
A
- Eden’s Middle Eastern strategy was to forge friendships with Iraq, Jordan and other Middle-Eastern allies
- Formalised in the Baghdad Pact 1955
- Pact was a treaty to consolidate Britain’s oil supplies
- Meant to exclude soviet interest from Middle East
