Post war Foriegn policy

• Vietnam War 


  • Gave moral support without military support
  • Highly unpopular with the left so risked losing support
  • Economic and financial - couldn't alienate the US as the value of the pound
• WW2 has bankrupted Britain, badly damaged and burdened with debt and two new superpowers - USSR + America

  -1947 - British amabassador informs Washington of bankruptcy and would have to withdraw from Palestine, Turkey and Greece - same year independance is given to India marking colonial retreat

  • Lost empire but not found a role
• EEC created in Schumann plan to guarantee safety in Europe especially with Cold War
• Why did Britain not join the EEC?

  • Few politicians or journalists wanted Britain to take leadership in Europe
  • Left wing sceptical of free market principles in common market
  • Right preferred the commonwealth trade - Canada, new Zealand and Australia
  • Continental europes issue as Britain had won
  • Assumption that britain was still a great world power
  • Britain wanted to balance US relationship with Europe
• 1961 EEC Macmillan Application : why?

  • Boost industrial production for large scale export market
  • Increase industrial efficiency with competition
  • Stimulate economic growth with rapidity already exhibited by EEC
  • US saw Britain as vital link between Europe and America
• Why was it complex?

  Britain wanted to retain US relationship and commonwealth

  • Hard to adapt to Common agri-cultural society
  • Lamb exports from New Zealand would’ve been blocked by EEC rules
  • Heath negotiated but De Gaulle vetoed
• Britain supported the United Nations in Korea :

  • Soviet Union in north vs America in South
  • 1950 - 53 - Sent 90 thousand troops
  • Over 1000 died after ceasefire in 1953
  • Demonstrated Britains role in foriegn affairs and cold war significant
  • US was greater power
• In return for giving America a submarine base they agreed to give us the polaris missiles