Foreign relations: EFTA and attempts to join the EEC, relations with USA and USSR, debates over the nucelar deterrent, Korean War, Suez crisis, decolonisation and the 'Wind of change' in africa.

what was the atlantic alliance?

• a term used to refer to NATO- North Atlantic Treaty Organisation; formed in 1949 to defend the western alliance in the cold war

what was the Schuman plan?

• the plan set out proposals for a Coal and Steel Community that would integrate French and German heavy industry in order to promote rapid economic construction.

• this was to be the foundation of the EEC- European Economic Community

why did Britain not initially become involved in the EEC?

• Britain wanted to balance its involvement in Europe with maintaining the ‘special relationship’ with the United States

• there were very few politicians or journalists in favour of Britain taking up the leadership role in Europe that was on offer

  • the right tended to regard the preservation of traditional trade links with Australia, Canada and New Zealand as far more important than those with Europe

when was the EEC launched?

• 1957 by the treaty of Rome

what was Charles de Gaulle main objective regarding the EEC?

• The EEC was heavily dominated by Germany and France and he wanted to protect this partnership from Britain

what was Britain hoping for to happen if they joined the EEC?

• boost industrial production for a large-scale export market

• increase industrial efficiency with greater competition

• stimulate economic growth with the rapid economic expansion already seen in the EEC

why couldn’t Britain join the EEC?

• French President Charles de Gaulle exercised France’s right of veto and blocked Britain’s application

• this caused shock with the other 5 members of the community

how did the ‘special relationship’ between Britain and the USA develop in the 50s/60s?

• Britain supported the UN in Korea

• it worked with the USA to sustain West Berlin

• Supermac established a good relationship with JFK, giving him advice on the CMC although Peter Thorneycroft described Britain as ‘bystanders’

what was the Burgess and Maclean affair?

• There was a revelation that British spies had been leaking vital secrets to Moscow which as a result deeply worried Americans, who became much more reluctant to share intelligence secrets with GB.

what did the USA share with GB by 1958?

• shared nuclear technology with Britain under the Mutual Defence Agreement

what were Britain’s involvements in the Korean War and what did it show?

• GB sent over 90,000 troops the 2nd largest contingent after the USA

• it demonstrated Britain’s willingness to continue to play major role in world affairs, despite economic constraints

• it was clear however that the USA was the greater power as the UN was dominated by USA