A Study Of UK's Policy Toward German Reunification(1989-1990)

The British policy toward German reunification was formed during the early days of the Cold War.With the changes in the international situation in the mid-war period and the rapid growth of the Federal Republic of Germany,the European region formed a relatively stable balance pattern during this period.In the mid-1980s,the relationship between East and West was once again easing,and the confrontational factors of the Cold War were weakening.The Federal Republic of Germany showed a strong tendency to independence in its foreign policy with the Eastern camp.The British policy of German reunification also actively supported the Federal Republic of Germany in the 1950s.Through the forces,it sought German unification in the Western camp.In the 1970s,it recognized the status quo of the European border.It only suported the Federal Republic of Germany to seek German reunification through free self-determination,and then in the 1980s,Mrs.Thatcher's policy "As long as German reunification is not a realistic prospect,the United Kingdom is in favor of Germany's commitment to German unification and self-determination." The UK's concerns about German reunification have also been strengthened in this process,and the stability of the UK's policy to German unification has been weakened.in 1989,there was full of uncertainty.In 1989,the Democratic Republic of Germany changed dramatically.The German reunification seems to be no longer far away.Mrs.Thatcher based on her personal views on Germany and its history,Mrs.Thatcher regarded German unification as a potential imperialism and adopted a series of boycotts to German reunification,Mrs.Thatcher against German reunification was gradually isolated by Western allies;while The Foreign Secretary of United Kingdom was replaced in 1989.Finally,Hurd became the new Foreign Secretary.Hurd's diplomacy Based on the success of the post-war reconstruction and reconstruction of the Federal Republic of Germany,the Foreign Office regards the Federal Republic of Germany as a liberal country and advocates a more pragmatic and constructive cooperation policy toward German unification.As a result,the Foreign and Commonwealth Office under Hurd's leadership formed a fierce contradiction and confrontation with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her "kitchen cabinet".Hurd took a more flexible approach to the struggle with the diplomatic pressure that Mrs.Thatcher encountered in the Western camp.In his diplomatic cooperation,Hurd actively coordinated with the Western camp countries to German reunification,seeking support from Western allies;using private seminar in the internal struggles to restore the competitiveness of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office,and thus master the United Kingdom's policy toward German reunification.The UK adjustment the policy to German reunification was reached at the seminar,which to some extent won the space for the British diplomatic work;but Mrs.Thatcher's concerns about the prospect of German reunification have not been completely eliminated,but also to a certain extent It has affected the role of the UK in the German reunification process.The first part of the article mainly analyzes the traditions and characteristics of the UK's policy to German reunification.By reviewing the foothold and starting point of the British Cold War formation to find its policy towards the German unification policy,the article finds out the cause of the British boycott of German reunification after the fall of the Berlin Wall from the historical development of the British policy toward German reunification.The second part is mainly from the diplomatic game between Britain and other countries and the game between Mrs.Thatcher and the cabinet members in the process of finding the United Kingdom to adjust the policy of Germany reunification,and actively promote the unification of Germany.The article begins with the perception and prejudgment of the status quo by the British internal officials.Since the internal debate in the UK has not yet reached a clear result,the UK adopted a more cautious diplomatic strategy in early 1989,reaffirming the British right and responsibility to German reunification,advocate maintaining the status quo.At a time when the internal game has not yet reached a consensus,Mrs.Thatcher used her personal views on German unification and her personal advisory opinions to gradually form a policy that against German unification through personal dec is ion-making mechanisms,actively wooing France to organize against German unification alliance.In order to resolve the passive situation on the issue of reunification,the Federal Republic of Germany proposed the"Ten Point Plan" of German reunification in November,and expressed sincerity to France on the issue of European integration and dispelled France's concerns about German reunification.Since the British prevented the German reunification policy from being isolated by Western allies in diplomacy,there was also a fierce dispute within the government.In the end,the Foreign Secretary Hurd used the seminar to adjust the British policy toward German unification through a collective decision-making mechanism.The third part mainly analyzes the struggles and strategies of the UK during the"2+4" meetings and the impact of the negotiations on the UK's German reunification policy.After the UK re-adjusted its policy toward German reunification,it actively participated in the preparations for the "2+4" meetings.The United Kingdom is actively coordinating with the United States on the NATO status of Germany after the German reunification.It is close to France in the future framework of the European Community and German-Polish border permanent.It will use the CSCE mechanism in the European collective defense security.The inclusion of the Soviet Union in Europe can not only play a role in the containment of Germany,but also guarantee the security needs of the Soviet Union.On the issue of German reunification and European security,Hurd's rights at the Foreign Ministers' Conference on the German-Polish border,the German military and the four major powers ends for struggle and compromise.The fourth part mainly summarizes and evaluates the whole article.Firstly,it summarizes the gains and losses of the UK's policy toward German reunification Then it analyzes the causes of the UK's change in the Germn unified policy.Finally,it analyzes the decision-making mechanism and its characteristics of the UK's policy on German reunification.And the use the case of the British transformation policy to the German reunification for a preliminary discussion of the interaction between British domestic politics and foreign policy.