A Preliminary Probe Into British Decision-making About Defence Withdrawl From East Of Suez In 1964-1968

During middle and late 1960s,British completive defence withdrawl from east of suez was a transitional event in British history,which symbolized the end of Britain`s status as the world power of first rank.In this paper,I try to reveal the decision-making course about British defence retreat from east of suez,exhaust various elements affacting British decision-making and analyse its characters,essence and its effect on Britain itself and the local security situation.This paper is divided into five sections .The first section brifely narrates the origin of defence policy east of suez and the evolution of British defence policy east of suez from 1945 to 1964. The defence system east of suez`s establishment and existence related directly to indian colony.But after the independence of India,Britain refused to give up the defence existence east of suez due to the elements such as its pursuit of greatness,the breakout of the cold war and British crucial stratigic benefits there.Although British did not change the essence of its defence policy east of suez during the short period afer the Suez debacle ,there were many people in and out of its government had begun to query the defence system east of suez on its effectiveness and make secret review of British policy overseas,which became the background of defence policy`s review and decision-making of the Wilson government from 1964 to 1970.The second section discourses the going of the defence review by the early labour government from October 1964 to June 1965.During this course,British defence policy east of suez happened to change gradually,and the govnment`s attitude toward the system went through resolute holdment to the limited keeppment and further to the agreement of part reducement,all of which meant that Britain had made the key step to the entire abadonment of the defence system east of suez.The third section exposes British decision-making performance about partly disengagment from defence commitments east of suez from July 1965 to Februry 1966.Basing on the previous consensus on part reducement of defence commitment east of suez,the Wilson government examined the cost and benefits of defence policy east of suez more carefully and deeply,and made a decision to militarily evacuate Aden base and Singapore base ,and partly retrench from Mediterranean defence commitment.But given allies`standpoint against it and some difficulties facing Britain,the Wilson government covered its real intention of the departure from the Singapore base when publishing the final decision.The fourth section expounds the decision-making procedure for completively abandoning the defence commitments east of suez and the elements relating to it fronmMarch 1966 to July 1967.The economy crisis drived the wilson government to examine its defence policy overseas once more.The end of confrontation between malaysia and Indonesia and the pressure to reduce defence expenditure impelled the Wilson government to consider the possibility and necessity of entirely abadoning defence commitments east of suez.In view of allies` attitude and British circumstances,the wilson government finally decide to half retreat in early 1970s and completively retreat from Far East and the Gulf in middle 1970s.British intention of returning to Europe became more clear.The fifth section mainly expounds decision-making course about British accelerative retreatment from east of suez.Another economy crisis destroyed British imperial dream thoroughly.Although its allies persuded and even appealled Britain to stay east of suez,the Wilson government refused to change its final decision.We can conclud from this paper that varous elements, such as the rising of postwar national revolution,the decline of postwar Britain and British stratigic centre shift to Europe comprehensively led to British final defence withdrawl from east of suez .In this course,the British government was very cautious about itsdecision-making.British decision was helpful for USA to replace Britain to play a leading role in the local security circumstances.Essencially,British decision-making to defence withdrawl from east of suez was that Britain relocated its position in World and redirected its developmental direction according to the changement of situation inhome and abrod.