Available online
Description
This programme discusses the roles of the U.N. and the Commonwealth in determining Britains response to UDI.
This programme discusses the roles of the U.N. and the Commonwealth in determining Britains response to UDI.
| Module code and title: | D233, World politics |
|---|---|
| Item code: | D233; 07 |
| First transmission date: | 19-07-1981 |
| Published: | 1981 |
| Rights Statement: | |
| Restrictions on use: | |
| Duration: | 00:24:30 |
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| Producer: | Carol Haslam |
| Contributors: | James Barber; Harold Wilson; Ivor Richard; Olmjimi Jolaoso; Stephen Solarz; Joshua Nkomo; Don McHenry; Sean Gervassi; Arthur Bottomley; Julius Nyrere |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | Economic sanctions; Politics; Rhodesia |
| Footage description: | James Barber, outside the U.N. building, explains the function of the United Nations and its role in the Rhodesian crisis, Shots of U.N. delegates. Harold Wilson states that there was little pressure on him from the white commonwealth members at the U.N. Archive shots of black Commonwealth members leaving the General Assembly as Wilson makes his speech on Rhodesia. James Barber introduces the following proposition, International Organisations act as instruments of states' foreign policy, modify states behaviour and have a degree of autonomy. He then talks to Ivor Richard, British U.N. representative 1974 to 1979, about Britain's use of the U.N. as an instrument of foreign policy. Richard argues that Britain was able to use the U.N.; on the other hand the U.N. also put pressure on Britain. He states that the U.N.'s Secretariat is gradually becoming more independent and cannot be ignored by the member states of the U.N. James Barber relates Richard's statement to the proposition and argues that the importance of the different parts of the proposition changes with time. Olujimi Jolaoso, Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, argues that the U.N. is no longer very important to super powers. Stephen Solarz, U.S. congressman, explains why the American government feels able to ignore pressure on its foreign policy made by the U.N. Joshua Nkomo states that Soviet pressures in the U.N. were the most important factors in altering Western attitudes towards colonial countries. John McHenry, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., argues that the U.N. was not wholly successful in imposing sanctions, as many member states did not have the required enforcement machinery to make them work. Sean Gervassi, U.N. consultant, states that the character of the U.N. is changing as the non-aligned states assert themselves. The sanctions policy was unsuccessful because some states had an interest in preventing the surfacing of information about sanctions breaking. The secretariat should be developed into a freer agency with more authority. James Barber argues that these views show that the U.N. has some autonomy. He then looks at the Commonwealth as another example of an international organisation. Olujimi Jolaoso describes the Commonwealth stand on Rhodesia. Archive film of Harold Wilson speaking about Britain's attitude to Commonwealth pressure. In the studio, Wilson describes the pressures from different groups within the Commonwealth. Arthur Bottomley describes the decline in Britain's relations with the rest of the Commonwealth after 1965. Archive shots of the delegates at the Lancaster House meeting of 1966. James Barber describes how Britain modified its position due to Commonwealth pressure. Archive film of the Canadian High Commissioner stating that Canada will support oil sanctions. Archive film of President Nyrere of Tanzania arguing that Britain has not recognised the independence of the new commonwealth members, and that British politicians still try to use the commonwealth for their own purposes. James Barber sums up the findings of the programme. |
| Master spool number: | OU 3675 |
| Production number: | FOUD141F |
| Videofinder number: | 119 |
| Available to public: | no |
