The Road So Far...
By the middle of the 1960s, remaining Cold War antagonism between the Soviet Union and the United States had resulted in new phases of violent savagery being played out in contained areas, most notably in Vietnam. The flare-ups in Southeast Asia in the 1960s were seen with cynicism by much of the Western world. There was an awareness that the supposed necessity of the war in Vietnam, rested much more on political self-interest than on moral grounds.
The US government were obsessed by the threat of communism spreading throughout the world during the Cold War and saw that Southeast Asia would be the next target.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower was the first to refer to this growing concern over communist influence in Southeast Asia as 'the domino theory', in 1954. This fear is what prompted the US government to commit both US troops and resources in an effort to stop communism in its tracks. However, from the Vietnamese perspective, and from the perspective of many who were against US involvement, the war in Vietnam was seen as more of a war against oppression and foreign interference from the US as opposed to the threat of communism.
The US government were obsessed by the threat of communism spreading throughout the world during the Cold War and saw that Southeast Asia would be the next target.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower was the first to refer to this growing concern over communist influence in Southeast Asia as 'the domino theory', in 1954. This fear is what prompted the US government to commit both US troops and resources in an effort to stop communism in its tracks. However, from the Vietnamese perspective, and from the perspective of many who were against US involvement, the war in Vietnam was seen as more of a war against oppression and foreign interference from the US as opposed to the threat of communism.
Up until this point of conflict in Vietnam, New Zealand as a small nation in the South Pacific, had a long history of cultural distance as well as economic isolation from Asia and the happenings in that particular part of the world seemed of little relevance to the lives of New Zealanders. However, when developments in Asia appeared to pose some kind of a threat to New Zealand, public consciousness would surface. As Asia looked to become the next frontline of global confrontation, the growing realisation that New Zealand - along with the rest of the world - could face a a new kind of threat from Asia began.
New Zealand found itself being dragged into the US' war in Vietnam due to the ANZUS alliance and the SEATO agreement. |
New Zealand Herald cartoon (7 November 1950)
illustrative of popular perceptions in New Zealand
of the growing threat to Asian regional stability
posed by Chinese communism.
illustrative of popular perceptions in New Zealand
of the growing threat to Asian regional stability
posed by Chinese communism.
ANZUS:
The ANZUS alliance offered a regional security agreement between Australia, New Zealand and the USA, who agreed to support each other when any of the three nations comes under threat. The treaty was signed in 1951 and stated that, "the parties will consult together whenever in the opinion of any of them the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened in the Pacific."
SEATO:
In 1954, New Zealand also signed the South East Asian Treaty Organisation (SEATO) which would appear to be set on improving the social and economic situation in the region, but was actually designed in an effort to stop further communism in Southeast Asia. The members of SEATO include: New Zealand, Australia, France, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, the UK, and the USA.
In signing both of these alliances, New Zealand had marked their importance in foreign relations, and in joining the USA and Australia in the ANZUS treaty, an important change in New Zealand's foreign alliances was also noted. The ANZUS alliance was the first time that New Zealand had allied itself with a Great Power other than Britain. This new allegiance to the United States became cause for concern amongst New Zealanders who saw this alliance as a disloyalty to its British allies.
The ANZUS alliance offered a regional security agreement between Australia, New Zealand and the USA, who agreed to support each other when any of the three nations comes under threat. The treaty was signed in 1951 and stated that, "the parties will consult together whenever in the opinion of any of them the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened in the Pacific."
SEATO:
In 1954, New Zealand also signed the South East Asian Treaty Organisation (SEATO) which would appear to be set on improving the social and economic situation in the region, but was actually designed in an effort to stop further communism in Southeast Asia. The members of SEATO include: New Zealand, Australia, France, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, the UK, and the USA.
In signing both of these alliances, New Zealand had marked their importance in foreign relations, and in joining the USA and Australia in the ANZUS treaty, an important change in New Zealand's foreign alliances was also noted. The ANZUS alliance was the first time that New Zealand had allied itself with a Great Power other than Britain. This new allegiance to the United States became cause for concern amongst New Zealanders who saw this alliance as a disloyalty to its British allies.
New Zealand Gets Involved
New Zealand's newly formed ties with the US meant that it was difficult for the country not to participate in the Vietnam conflict when the US put out the call for "a strong show of flags" (in Vietnam). Although New Zealand was now obliged under a treaty to come to the aid of America, the nations Prime Minister at the time, PM Keith Holyoake, had mixed feelings when it came to the decision of committing troops (see page on Keith Holyoake). In 1962, after much pressure from the USA, New Zealand sent a surgical team to Vietnam in order to assist the US-backed South of Vietnam, they would not send combat troops at this stage however, as the NZ government saw that it was not yet necessary or appropriate. However, in May 1965, Prime Minister Holyoake was broadcast to the nations televisions in an announcement that would be the watershed moment for New Zealand's anti-Vietnam movement. Holyoake announced that New Zealand would be sending in an artillery unit to assist the South Vietnamese and its American and Australian allies. The first NZ gunners left from Whenuapai Airport in July 1965, beginning what would be a seven-year involvement of NZ combat troops in Vietnam.
New Zealand's newly formed ties with the US meant that it was difficult for the country not to participate in the Vietnam conflict when the US put out the call for "a strong show of flags" (in Vietnam). Although New Zealand was now obliged under a treaty to come to the aid of America, the nations Prime Minister at the time, PM Keith Holyoake, had mixed feelings when it came to the decision of committing troops (see page on Keith Holyoake). In 1962, after much pressure from the USA, New Zealand sent a surgical team to Vietnam in order to assist the US-backed South of Vietnam, they would not send combat troops at this stage however, as the NZ government saw that it was not yet necessary or appropriate. However, in May 1965, Prime Minister Holyoake was broadcast to the nations televisions in an announcement that would be the watershed moment for New Zealand's anti-Vietnam movement. Holyoake announced that New Zealand would be sending in an artillery unit to assist the South Vietnamese and its American and Australian allies. The first NZ gunners left from Whenuapai Airport in July 1965, beginning what would be a seven-year involvement of NZ combat troops in Vietnam.
Prime Minister Keith Holyoake's television announcement, May 24th 1965.
~NZ Herald
~NZ Herald
The May 1965 announcement was the beginning of a long anti-war campaign which would divide much of the country. Vietnam would be the first war New Zealand had fought in which there was widespread disagreement at home about the objectives of the nation's involvement.