What Were International Relations Like and How Did These Influence Imperial Policies?

  • Britain’s imperial policy from 1947 to 1967 heavily influenced by changing international scene. After WWII, USA and USSR had emerged as superpowers and dictated international developments in post-war world. Cold War emerged between the two, due to different political systems both adopted and since both had nuclear missiles, mutual fear of destruction or ‘mutually assured destruction’. Whilst America was anti-imperialist, they needed strong Britain to counter communist advances across the globe. America even financed low interest loans in regards to Britain’s colonies.
    • In the Balkans, President Truman asked Congress for $400 million in military and economic assistance for Greece and Turkey, establishing Truman Doctrine in 1947. By this, USA pledged helping countries ‘resisting subjugation’.
  • However, Britain was also increasingly dependent on the USA for financial aid, in form of Marshall Plan, where Britain received $3.3 billion. Therefore, most British imperial policy passed by them and when it wasn’t, harsh repercussions occurred a la Suez crisis. Even Britain’s dominions began relying on USA for support.
    • Britain also relied on North Atlantic Treaty Organisation of 1949 and America’s nuclear capacity for defence.
    • A Mutual Defence Agreement was signed in 1958 and in 1962-63, both America and UK signed Polaris agreement, whereby US agreed to supply Britain with Polaris ballistic missiles for use in Royal Navy submarines.
    • Formation of South East Asia Treaty Organisation (Australia, France, New Zealand, Philippines, Thailand, Britain and USA) in wake of Korean War acknowledged need of American-led protective alliance.
  • Britain’s attempted reliance on Empire kept it out of the European Economic Community until the 1960s, which brought Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany together in economic union in 1957. Britain began to realise its future relied on Europe and when it tried to join, France under de Gaulle conspired to keep Britain out, vetoing it twice in 1963 and 1967. Britain finally joined in 1973.