Dissent in London, June 1966–July 1967

Abstract

At the beginning of 1966, Wilson enjoyed the support of the majority of Cabinet members for maintaining an East of Suez strategy. The strategy called for the continuing presence of British forces in the Middle East and South-East Asia, even after the conclusion of Confrontation and Britain’s departure from Aden, which many in London saw as vital if Britain were to maintain its status as a global power, as that position involved certain responsibilities. Britain would eventually withdraw its forces from South-East Asia; however, until the stabilisation of the Asian political situation, it would maintain its military presence there. A ‘stable’ position was one where non-communist Asian countries had managed to curb the threat of internal insurgency by domestic communist or similarly subversive movements. Only then could these countries oppose the possible spread of influence from China, thus enabling Western governments to withdraw their forces.