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goals of british foreign policy:1964-1970 - Coggle Diagram
goals of british foreign policy:1964-1970
The special relationship with the us
The vietnam war
lyndon johnson wanted wilson to send troops to support the vietnam war which had escalated in 1965
wilson did not want to send troops at it would of been extremely expensive but he was force to give moral support as the uk was reliant on america propping up the value of the pound and giving out loans
was damaged but remained strong
withdrawal east of suez
labour knew that there would have to be reductions in millitary commitments.
denis healey started a process to reduce military spending to below 2 billion and in 1967 he released a white paper containing timetable fore withdrawal from east of suez
however there was no real debate over giving up britain's nuclear deterrent and in 1967 in committed itself to upgrade them at great expense.
At first the process was gradual but this changed after roy jenkins the new defence secretary introduced severe spending cuts.
joining the EEC
the labour party was divided over the issue of joining the EEC
the left of the party saw it as a capitalist club which would prevent the uk from pursuing socialist policies,water down workers rights and suppress trade union power.
some on the right of the party feared it would become a federalist with hugh gaitskell saying it would be the end of a 1000 year history.
wilson was ambivalent towards joining the EEC but saw the economic potential.
Rhodesia and declonialisation
rhodesia
in 1965 ian smith the prime minster rushed to declare a unilateral declaration of independence
direct challenge to wilson who thought it could be resolved in weeks not months.
wilson met with ian smith on the HMS tiger in 1966 where progress seemed to be made but he disavowed everything he said as soon as he got back home
wilson introduced oil sanctions but they where ignored but neighbouring countries and oil companies
further meetings on HMS fearless in 1968 but smith felt stronger and thought he could wait for a more friendly conservative government to back him.
biafra crisis
in 1965 the Iba people in nigeria started a civil war to create their own nation.
the public supported the Iba people but wilson felt obligated to support the official government.
the iba lost and wilson found himself on the wrong side of public opinion at a difficult time for his government.