External Relations 18901960

1
External Relations 1890-1960

• Lecture 10 of 148.205 Modern New Zealand Politics

2
In search of nationalism

• Much New Zealand history (except James Belich) is
  in search of nationalism
• But the quest for security has affected us deeply

3
How were external relations organised at first?

• The Governor had responsibility for linking with
  the Colonial Office
• Complaints about governors (Lord Onslow, Lord
  Glasgow) and desire for elective governor
• Agent General in London visited government
  departments
• High Commissioner from 1905

4
Belonging to the empire

• Pro-British
• Consulted through meetings of colonies and
  Colonial Secretary Golden Jubilee 1897
• Joe Chamberlains Imperial Federation idea
  which New Zealand supported

5
Pacific Aspirations

• Strong New Zealand links through traders and
  missionaries
• Concern at German annexations in Samoa, PNG.
• Dreams of empire Vogel, Seddon
• Cook Is annexed 1900-01, Niue 1905

6
Relations with Australia

• New Zealand long part of Australasia in British
  eyes
• Many combined bodies, and movement of people
  shearers
• Australian federation proposed 1881
• Our MPs generally opposed
• Auckland Federation league 1899
• Royal Commission, 1900
• Links remained close after federation

7
Creating a defence force

• Blue Water School said empire should have naval
  bases.
• We paid Britain a naval subsidy from 1887
  L100,000 in 1908
• Army offered at time of Russian scare 1885
• 6495 troops sent to South Africa in 1897
• 1909 Defence Act created territorial army under
  Sir Alexander Godley
• Cadets trained under Amendment 1910
• 1912 Amendment Act created Navy using British
  ship Philomel

8
World War I

• Four expeditionary forces created (100,000
  troops, 10 of population) 16781 killed or
  wounded
• Samoan force seized it from Germany
• Middle East force to Gallipoli
• Western Front force
• Mounted Rifles Brigade in Middle East

9
Being Loyal to Britain

• More loyal than Australia or Canada
• Both with gratitude for the past, and with
  confidence in the future, we range ourselves
  without fear beside Britain. Where she goes, we
  go, where she stands, we stand. We are only a
  small and a young nation, but we are one and all
  a band of brothers, and we march forward with a
  union of hearts and wills to a common destiny
  (Savage, 1939)
• Dominion from 1907, at Versailles negotiations,
  joined League, slow to use Balfour Treaty of 1926

10
Trade Issues

• Free trade or imperial preference was Joe
  Chamberlains vision
• Dairy sales linked New Zealand to Britain
• Protectionism emerged in the Depression Era
• The Ottowa economic conference 1932 gave New
  Zealand preferential access to the British market

11
Foreign Allainces

• New Zealand disliked the British Treaty with
  Japan abandoned in 1921
• No attempt to link with America
• Troops sent to Middle East 1920s
• Fears of Russia and China

12
The Pacific Mandates

• In 1919 James Allen first Minister of External
  Affairs dealing with Samoa
• External Affairs later part of PMs Department
• Department for Island Affairs set up 1943
• From 1925 responsible for Tokelaus
• Mandate for Samoa, expelled Chinese, suppressed
  Mau
• Nauru seized by Australia from Germany, 16 of
  British Phosphate Commission
• Labour from 1935 sought to improve Trusteeship

13
Labours Internationalism

• Labour condemned the Versailles Treaty
• Strongly supported the League
• Condemned Italian invasion of Abyssinia
• Condemned Fascism in Spain
• Condemned Japanese in Manchura
• They were Crusaders

14
World War II

• 205,000 served, 11,671 died, 250,000 in Home
  Guard
• Air Force created
• Slow to introduce conscription
• On 13 June 1940 Britain said it could not send
  fleet vs Japan
• Troops left in Europe (unlike Australians)
• Pacific War Council in Washington
• High Commissions in Ottawa, Canberra, Embassies
  in Washington Moscow

15
Post-War Arrangements

• Treaty of Westminster finally ratified 1947
• Commonwealth and United Nations important
• Anti-Communist emphasis
• Korean War persuaded Americans to form ANZUS 1951
• Defence of Malaya in ANZAM with Britain
• SEATO formed 1954 vs Communists

16
Foreign Military Interventions

• Korea
• War authorised by UN
• 2 frigates and K Force artillery
• Malayan Emergency
• ANZAM
• SAS Squadron
• Led to Vietnam involvement

17
Good World Citizens

• Act improved in the Pacific
• Trade prosperity until 1962 EEC
• Embassies added in Tokyo, Paris, Hague by 1950
• Overseas aid through CORSO
• Are we internationalists or do we just want
  security?