Catalogue Number
NMLH.1994.168.99.2
Object Name
Poster
Title
'Vietnam. Tell Wilson We Don't Back America's War'
People
Harold Wilson, Communist Party of Great Britain
Events
Vietnam War
Date
around 1965
Description
White poster reading 'Vietnam' at the top and 'Tell Wilson we don't back America's war' in the centre in large blue text. A yellow border surrounds the word 'Vietnam'. The Vietnam war began in 1954 and ended in 1975. The US sent troops to Vietnam at the start of the war to ally itself with South Vietnam in order to weaken communist North Vietnam. US involvement peaked in 1969, when over 500,000 US soldiers deployed to fight. The Communist Party were against US involvement in Vietnam as they supported North Vietnam and the right of Vietnam to govern itself according to communist principles. During the war, the US put significant pressure on Britain to aid in the war effort by sending troops. This pressure peaked during the mid 1960's, when Harold Wilson was Prime Minister of the UK. Wilson was against British involvement in the war but refused to condemn US involvement, causing groups such as the Communist Party to demand he do more in speaking out against it. This poster was issued by
the Communist Party, around 1965. Condition: Large rips and creases at the sides of the poster. Dirt towards top left corner.
