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Foreign Affairs 1970-79 x (European referendum (For (In 1975 out of 419…
Foreign Affairs 1970-79 x
Entry into the EEC
1973, 3rd application but labour and conservative were still divided
When preparing to aply in 1971 everyone knew they would be accepted
Edward Heath pro-Europe unlike Wilson
Heaths first speech in parliament was to do with the Schuman Plan a precursor to the EEC
As a student he had been to Germany in 1930's and was appalled by the Nazi government and believed that European co-operation was key
France was no longer lead by De Gaulle but Pompidou convinced the EEC needed Britain
Work was done in 1962 by Heaths team of negotiators though it formally took 2 years
issue of parliamentary approvement in Britian
Conservative
Enoch Powell, bad relationship with Heath after Rivers of blood
voted against it at every stage and felt Heath had betrayed the country signing before a parliamentary debate
Refused to stand as Conservative candidate in 1974 and called on his supporters to vote labour
conservatives that believed in the common wealth and that Britain would surrender her sovereignty
Labour
Some committed to Europe ie Jenkins
Labour Left mostly hostile
Wilson wasn't for or against just wanted party unity
Initially opposed Heaths plans but could not argue directly against due to pro-Europeans in the party
Wilson argued the terms weren't good enough, Wilson could only keep the party together by promising re-negotiation and a national referendum when labour came back into power
In the end 69 labour voted for the conservative joining of the EEC
Fears
future refurendum
suffer for missing out on the formative years of EEC since 57
European referendum
When Labour retuned to power in 1974 Wilson wanted party unity= referendum campaign in 1975
Wilson and Callaghan claimed neutrality
For
In 1975 out of 419 chairmen only 4 wanted to leave
Yes campaign had Heath Jenkins and Liberal leader Thorpe
By 1975 voter support for EEC had increased with the economic mess proving it was needed and the press in favour
Against
Argument it would be bad for British Workers inc Barbara Castle and Micheal Foot
Britian would lose its independence inc Toney Benn, Enoch Powell and Paisley of DUP
The question was 'Do you think the UK should remain in the EEC?' 68.4% yes
The victory was more than 2 to 1 which looked good but it was bad a referendum was held at all but Wilson avided the Labour split
After the referendum the European issue quietened and and Jenkins became a European commissioner
Labour party were increasingly anti-Europe and the Conservatives against the issue had not changed their mind but the people had voted in
USA Special Relationship
As Heath was inclined towards Europe he was less interested in the Atlantic Alliance
Heath rejected Kissinger's use of Britian as a link with Europe and suggested he talk to Europe as a whole instead of using Britian as a go between
Heath got on well with Nixon and supported the Policy in Vietnam that Wilson was sketchy about
Yom Kippur War= tension
short war Oct 1975 between Israel and the coalition of the Arab states the US supported Israel and USSR supported Arabs to cold war was involved
US wanted to use NATO in Europe as a airbase for supplies to Israel
Most European states said no ( inc Britian) as they worried it would put Middle east oil at risk
Oct 1973
Wilson and Callaghan were keen on Atlantic alliance , Callaghan had a relationship with Kissinger and negotiated replacement of Polaris nuces with Tridant in 1979 with president Carter.
Callaghan and Wilson did withdraw from the East Suez despite US complains
USSR and China
US and UK shared the foreign policy to hold back communism the USSR and China were the most powerful communist states and due to the cold war there was tensions
in 1970's the US relationship with the communist states got better so did Britains
Russia
Markov affair
Bulgarian who defected to the west in 1969 and was outspoken in criticising the communist regime
assassinated in London 1978, Russians suspected of being behind it
Detene (easing of hostility) after the Cuban missile Crisis so they wanted to stop such a situation happening again leading to a limit in build up on arms
China
up until early 1970's relations with China were strained
Changed in 1971 when Nixon announced a thawing of relations following a visit to China in72 were he geld meetings with Mao Zedong
March 1972 Britain followed with ambassadors and Heath made may visits from 74 onwards given 'Peoples Friendship Envoy' highest on honors