Australian Foreign Policy in the 1950s and 60s

Context Communism Capitalism is a political movement based on the writings of Karl Marx No private ownership of business or property. A country’s wealth is hared by among the population. Everyone in theory is equal and doesn’t profit off anyone Colour Red and the Hammer represent the worker Sickle represents the farm labourer Capitalism Economic system that allows for private ownership and property and there is a free market in which to operate. Government is elected democratically by the people

Threat of Communism The end of W.W.II marked the beginning of the Cold War. A war based on tension, deals, diplomacy and words Soviet Union and the “iron curtain” that descended over Europe (countries liberated by the Red Army – symbolised by the Berlin Wall) U.S. commitment to oppose aggressive expansion of communism Decolonisation at the end of WWII – threat of communism Communist threat in Asia emerged with the rise to power of Mao Zedong in 1949.

Guiding Principles Communism in Asia presented the greatest threat to our security. Australia was unable to defend itself. Reliance upon “our great and powerful friends”. Australia had to prove its loyalty as an ally. Support for Britain in Malaya Support for the U.S. in Korea and Vietnam.

Guiding Principles Belief that it was in our best interests to meet any threats to our security as far as possible away from the Australian mainland. A policy of “forward defence”. Influenced heavily by our belief in the “domino theory”.

Domino Theory “You have a row of dominoes set up, you knock over the first one, and what will happen to the last one is the certainty that it will go over very quickly. So you could have a beginning of a disintegration that would have the most profound influences.” President Eisenhower, April 1954

Korean War In June 1950 communist North Korea invaded South Korea. The United Nations sent an international force to support South Korea. Australia sent two battalions. Oppose aggressive nationalism Support our ally, the U.S. Forward defence

Malayan Emergency A communist movement attempted to overthrow the government in British Malaya in the 1950s. In 1955 the Menzies government sent troops to assist the British.

ANZUS and SEATO ANZUS was signed in 1951, binding each of the three powers to assist one another in the event of an attack. SEATO was signed in 1954 after the French defeat in Indochina. Opposition to communist activity in South-East Asia.

Vietnam War With the defeat of the French forces it was decided at an international conference to divide Vietnam in two. Ho Chi Minh and the communist forces set out to reunify the country. The National Liberation Front, or Vietcong, was established to undermine the southern government by means of guerilla warfare.