Although the origins of the so-called Cold War can be traced back to the Bolshevik revolution of 1917, this intense ideological struggle between the Western powers and the Soviet Union really began after the Second World War.
New Zealand's alignment and participation in the Cold War was determined by the decision of the 1940s Labour government to back the United States and Great Britain (that concord was crucial) in their disagreements with the Soviet Union
In April 1954, US President Eisenhower referred to the Domino Theory to describe growing concern over communist influences in Indochina. Eisenhower argued that if the communists were not stopped, then next to fall like dominoes would be Burma, Thailand and Indonesia.
Asia was another 'theatre' of the conflict. The Communist victory in the Chinese civil war led New Zealand to accept commitments to assist in the defence of Hong Kong, and it continued to recognise the defeated Nationalist regime, based on Taiwan, even after Britain had recognised the new Communist government in Beijing.
As in the late 1950s, so in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Soviet Union and the United States both planned to enhance their nuclear arsenals, thereby reigniting a peace movement world wide. For New Zealanders there was a South Pacific focus.
Even before his arrest, trial and acquittal on spy charges in the 1970s most New Zealanders had heard of Dr W. B. Sutch. He was a prominent citizen – known for his work as an economist, writer, public servant and diplomat.
