Britain's Retreat from East of Suez: The Choice between Europe and the World?

by Saki Dockrill

Overview

This book, based on recently declassified documents in Britain and the USA, is the first detailed account of Britain's East of Suez decision, which was taken by the Harold Wilson Government in 1967-68. Contrary to received opinion, the author argues that the decision was not taken hastily as a result of the November 1967 devaluation. Nor is there any hard evidence to support the notion that there existed a 'Pound-Defence' deal with the USA. Despite Washington's pressure to maintain Britain's East of Suez role, the decision was taken by the Labour Government on the basis of a long-term effort to re-examine Britain's world role since 1959, and it marked the end of an era for postwar Britain.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780333732366
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan UK
Publication date:	07/09/2002
Series:	Cold War History
Edition description:	2002
Pages:	293
Product dimensions:	5.51(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.03(d)

About the Author

SAKI DOCKRILL is a Senior Lecturer in War Studies at King's College London. Dr Dockrill has written extensively on Anglo-US relations in Europe and Asia since 1945 and her recent publications include Eisenhower's New Look National Security Policy, and she is co-editor of Cold War Respite: the Geneva Summit of July 1955. She is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, General Editor of Palgrave's Cold War History series and a co-editor of the Journal of Cold War History.

Table of Contents

Preface; Sir Michael Palliser Acknowledgements Abbreviations Maps Introduction Power and Influence 1945-58 Three Roles 1959-1964 Labour in Charge: Reassessing Defence Priorities Spreading the Butter Too Thin: Military Capabilities versus Political Commitments Vietnam, the Pound and Britain's Role East of Suez The Decision to Withdraw from Aden and Singapore: The Defence Review June-December 1965 The Completion of the Defence Review January-February 1966 The Choice between Europe and 'East of Suez' March-December 1966 The Final Verdict: January 1967-January 1968 Conclusion Notes and References Select Bibliography Index

Editorial Reviews

'Dockrill makes use of recently declassified documents in Britain and the United States, as well as interviews, memoirs, and private papers, to provide a more nuanced understanding of the deliberations that resulted in Prime Minister Harold Wilson's decision to withdraw from Britain's major military bases East of Suez in 1967/68. Unlike conventional approaches to this topic, which link the sterling devaluation of November 1967 to the East of Suez decision, Dockrill

argues convincingly that this decision, following several years of protracted Cabinet debates and defense reviews, predated the devaluation by nearly six months.' - James Gump, Department of History, University of San Diego, H-NET BOOK REVIEW

'This ground-breaking monograph will be of immense value to anyone with an interest in the mechanics of decision-making in Whitehall, and should be essential reading for all students of British foreign and defence policy in the twentieth century.' - Keith Hamilton, Senior Editor, Documents on British Policy Overseas

'...an admirable study.' - Keith Robbins, International History Review

From the Publisher