Significance to New Zealand
Background to Yalta and United Nations with significance to New Zealand.
Singapore (Britain) lost to Japan in 1942. New Zealanders lost confidence in Britain’s ability to protect its nations/empire which encouraged New Zealand to consider Plan B (USA). → leading to the signing of United Nations Pact.
Canberra Pact 1944, Prime Minister at the time Peter Fraser signed Canberra Pact in January 1944. All signatures were Australian and New Zealand. The Canberra Pact was about working together on points of mutual interest, not military alliance. New Zealand next joined ANZAM 1949 and ANZUS 1951. This is all relevant to the Background and effects of Yalta as it describes knowledge into pacts and alliances before the Yalta Conference and what the significance to New Zealand and world after conference → United Nations.
“The United Nations came into existence on October 24, 1945, after 29 nations had ratified the Charter”. New Zealand was one of the 51 nations to pledge its support for the principle of collective security by signing the United Nations Charter. New Zealand supported United Nations 100%. This is significant to New Zealand and relevant to effects of the Yalta Conference and is proven 5 years later in 1950, when New Zealand sends troops to fight in Korea. During 1940’s and 1950’s New Zealand signed a series of agreements with Britain and USA armed at countering threats of Japanese military and communist expansion.
"New Zealand's anti-Nuclear stance led to the severing of overt military ties with the United States in 1985."
This is relevant as the alliances formed at Yalta had significant impact on New Zealanders. Including breakdown of military ties between America and New Zealand over Anti-nuclear stance.
"During the late 1940's New Zealand agreed to support Britain in the Middle East in the event of war with the Soviet Union, and sent troops to Korea (1950-1953) when communist North Korea invaded US - backed South Korea. In 1951, New Zealand and Australia strengthened Pacific security by signing the ANZUS military defence treaty with the United States. At home, post War paranoia saw communist party members removed from government jobs, while strikers during 1951 waterfront dispute were labelled communist for disrupting the war effort in Korea."
This shows an effect on New Zealand and significance as it caused “Cold War Paranoia” on New Zealand soil, leading to the removal of all communist party members from government roles. Also caused riots and strikes which disrupted war efforts in Korea.
"Nuclear Free commemorative Stamp - Anti War protests were part of a broader skepticism about Cold War ideology that emerged during the 1960's.
Peter Fraser (1940-1949)"
Peter Fraser in charge during Yalta Conference and signed United Nations Charter.
Significance to World
A film/news documentary “NATO the Changed Face of Europe – The Big Picture” which reviews the history of NATO includes information early on into what was agreed at Yalta Conference and the effects/significance to the world.
Churchill – “Democracy is not the ultimate form of government but it’s the best we have”.
“In USSR controlled areas, always the presence of the secret police and a number of soldiers occupying the Red Army. People exhausted by war were hardly likely to resist such coercion with determination in Western Europe. →morale higher. Essential freedoms of democracy burst out with new vigour → leads to Europe must be reunited”.
The news documentary shows the Yalta Conference outcomes and effects were significant as in what was meant to be a “free Eastern Europe” was filled with presence of secret police and numerous soldiers occupying Red Army. In Western Europe, the morale was much higher than west as democracy burst out with new vigour which caused Stalin to be paranoid. People in Russian side were too exhausted from effects of war to fight communism.
According to William Henry Chamberlin (An american Historian and Journalist) - “There was general hope in the United States that, despite differences in the political and economic institutions, the United States and Russia would cooperate in maintaining peace” This was because Roosevelt and Churchill became suspicious of Stalin’s constant strategizing and attempts to claim more area after WW II. Also enforcing a communist regime which is why it stated “this hope has been unmistakably dimmed, if not altogether destroyed, by Soviet actions and attitudes since the end of the war”. “Free election” agreements now meant different things.
In 1949, William Henry Chamberlin faults the Soviet Union for “Failing to live up to the spirit of Yalta” thus beginning the Cold War. Major World significant effect of Yalta as it caused global political uncertainty and tension within the allies. Mainly the US and USSR who both feared each other was attempting to dominate the world. Yalta led to diplomatic breakdown between America and Russia, which led to a cultural and military standoff. Each power believed the other was out to take over completely, so the effect/significance of the war was constant tension through rest of the Cold War – on edge.
Churchill – “Democracy is not the ultimate form of government but it’s the best we have”.
“In USSR controlled areas, always the presence of the secret police and a number of soldiers occupying the Red Army. People exhausted by war were hardly likely to resist such coercion with determination in Western Europe. →morale higher. Essential freedoms of democracy burst out with new vigour → leads to Europe must be reunited”.
The news documentary shows the Yalta Conference outcomes and effects were significant as in what was meant to be a “free Eastern Europe” was filled with presence of secret police and numerous soldiers occupying Red Army. In Western Europe, the morale was much higher than west as democracy burst out with new vigour which caused Stalin to be paranoid. People in Russian side were too exhausted from effects of war to fight communism.
According to William Henry Chamberlin (An american Historian and Journalist) - “There was general hope in the United States that, despite differences in the political and economic institutions, the United States and Russia would cooperate in maintaining peace” This was because Roosevelt and Churchill became suspicious of Stalin’s constant strategizing and attempts to claim more area after WW II. Also enforcing a communist regime which is why it stated “this hope has been unmistakably dimmed, if not altogether destroyed, by Soviet actions and attitudes since the end of the war”. “Free election” agreements now meant different things.
In 1949, William Henry Chamberlin faults the Soviet Union for “Failing to live up to the spirit of Yalta” thus beginning the Cold War. Major World significant effect of Yalta as it caused global political uncertainty and tension within the allies. Mainly the US and USSR who both feared each other was attempting to dominate the world. Yalta led to diplomatic breakdown between America and Russia, which led to a cultural and military standoff. Each power believed the other was out to take over completely, so the effect/significance of the war was constant tension through rest of the Cold War – on edge.