British Affairs - Vol.1 No.2 - June 1957

Sep 29, 2026

Quarterly review issue analyzing Britain’s defense policy and related national and international issues in June 1957. Focuses on the 1957 Defense White Paper and outlines major program changes: force reductions, nuclear deterrence strategy, bomber base defense, ballistic rocket and guided missile development, naval reorganization, and altered NATO/colonial commitments. Also discusses economic position, trade unionism in the U.K. and dependencies, budget and wage disputes, Suez Canal, hydrogen bomb, and trade with China, plus selected books and articles.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages52

Reading Time2 h 11 min

AccessFree to download

Leading Issues

Britain’s New Defense Program

Britain’s Economic Position

Technical Aspects of Britain’s New Nuclear Power Program

The Commonwealth

Independence for Malaya

Promoting Trade Unionism in U.K. Dependencies

Economic Background

A Budget to Fight Inflation

Note on U.S. Aid to U.K.

Issues in a Wage Dispute

U.K. Export Achievements

Official Statements

The Suez Canal

The Hydrogen Bomb

Trade with China

Books and Articles

BritishAffairs 8S.Zb人N A QUARTERLY REVIEW VOL.I-NO.2 JUNE,1957 BRITAIN’S NEW DEFENSE PROGRAMBRITAIN’S ECONOMIC POSITIONTHE NUCLEAR POWER PROGRAM INDEPENDENCE FOR MALAYATRADE UNIONS IN THE U.K.DEPENDENCIES THE BUDGET—WAGE ISSUES THE SUEZ CANAL—THE HYDROGENBOMB—TRADE WITH CHINA BOOKS AND ARTICLES BRITISH AFFAIRS (Formerly: “Labor and Industry in Britain”) Vol.1,No.2—JUNE 1957 CONTENTS Page Leading Issues BRITAIN'S NEW DEFENSE PROGRAM………………………………49 BRITAIN’S ECONOMIC POSITION…………………………………………56 TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF BRITAIN'S NEW NUCLEAR POWER PROGRAM: by Sir John Cockroft……………………………6 The Commonwealth INDEPENDENCE FOR MALAYA……………………………………71 PROMOTING TRADE UNIONISM IN U.K. DEPENDENCIES……………………………………………………………78 Economic Background A BUDGET TO FIGHT INFLATION……………………………………82 NOTE ON U.S. AID TOU.K……………………………………………………85 ISSUES INA WAGE DISPUTE……………………………………………………86 U.K.EXPORT ACHIEVEMENTS……………………………………………89 Official Statements THE SUEZ CANAL…………………………………………………………………91 THE HYDROGEN BOMB………………………………………………………93 TRADE WITH CHINA…………………………………………………………93 BOOKS AND ARTICLES………………………………………………………………95 Material from BRITISH AFFAIRS may be re- printed at will, except photographs and charts, for which application to reproduce is welcomed. Britain has taken a realistic look at the basic strategic andeconomic issues involved in her defense.The results of thisexamination were published in April in an important WhitePaper“Outline of Future Policy on Defense”(Cmnd.124). Britain's New Defense Program The 1957 Defense White Paper,which was published on April 4th,presented "the biggest change in military policy ever made in normaltimes.”The key changes,which will take five years to bring about are: 1.A gradual reduction in the manpower in the Forces with the aim ofestablishing a completely Regular(i.e.professional)force of 375,000 by 1962,ending the call-up under compulsory National Service at the end of 1960. 2.Overriding emphasis in strategy on the nuclear "deterrent"and the meansto deliver it,so that a potential enemy would not dare to launch a nuclear attack. 3.Concentration on defense of the bomber airfields to make sure that thebombers can take off to retaliate against an attack. 4.Emphasis on development of ballistic rockets and guided missiles. 5.Reorganization of the Royal Navy around aircraft carrier units. 6.Reduction of manpower contribution to NATO defense in Europe,andalso,where possible,of colonial garrisons,with increased emphasis on a mobileCentral Reserve stationed in Britain. Though the forces will thus be almost halved,ultimately,from theirpresent number,the cost of defense will not decline by anything like thisproportion because of the ever-increasing cost of modern weapons,thehigher cost per man of "regular"forces,and the fact that proportionatelymore civilians will be employed.It is significant that in the coming year1957-58,despite the economies being made,expenditure on defense isdue to fall only 7 per cent from the £1,525 million spent in 1956-57. There has been no change in Britain's view that "the defense of Britainis possible only as part of the collective defense of the free world."Thefirst paragraph of the White Paper states: "Britain's defense policy is determined by her obligations to make her con-tribution to NATO and other alliances for collective defense,as well as todischarge her own special responsibilities in many parts of the world.” In planning for the future,Britain has reassessed the position,takinginto account two major factors: 1.Economic:"Britain has been bearing a disproportionately large share ofthe total burden of Western defense."She can no longer continue to do sobecause it has put her economy in jeopardy.If the defense burden,both inmanpower and in cash expenditure,is so heavy as to prevent her from earningher living—as she must—by trade,she is weakened as an ally."It is thereforein the true interests of

FAQs

What major changes does the 1957 Defense White Paper propose for Britain’s forces?

It calls for a gradual reduction in manpower to build a professional regular force by 1962, shifts strategy to nuclear deterrence, emphasizes defense of bomber airfields, expands ballistic rockets and guided missiles, reorganizes the Royal Navy around aircraft carrier units, and adjusts NATO and colonial contributions with a mobile Central Reserve in Britain.

How does the document connect defense planning to Britain’s economic position?

It argues Britain carries a disproportionately large burden of Western defense and cannot continue without risking jeopardy to its economy, weakening its ability to be an ally. It stresses considering military expenditure together with maintaining financial and economic strength.

What is the role of nuclear deterrence in the document’s view of protection against nuclear attack?

It states there is at present no adequate protection for the people against nuclear consequences, so Britain relies on the power to promise instant retaliation with nuclear weapons. This is intended to deter a potential aggressor by making retaliation certain if an attack is launched.

Sep 29, 2026

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