The League of Nations and the 1930s

International Relations in the 1930s

Had the concept of Collective Security been destroyed by

1936?

If nations want peace, the League gives them a way by which peace can be kept. League or no League, a country which is determined to have a war can always have it. H.A.L Fisher, A History of Europe (1938)

Crisis in Collective Security

• The credibility of the League had been destroyed.

• Italy had been alienated as a potential ally.

• Britain and France had significant differences.

• The rise of Dictatorships in Europe.

• The rise of Imperial Japan.

• Britain stood back as Hitler crushed the military clauses of the Treaty of Versailles.

What role did Abyssinian Conflict play in this crisis of British foreign policy?

• Appeared to be ‘committed to riding two horses’ (Taylor)- conciliation of Mussolini and yet sustaining the authority of the League.

• Britain had no real interests in Abyssinia, but Hailie Selassie was hardly a model ruler ( Britain had unsuccessfully opposed Abyssinia’s entry to the League in 1923)

• Public opinion declared popular support for the League- and was also strongly opposed to the Italian invasion.

• General Election in 1935- sanctions policy was a cheap way of securing victory for the National Government / Labour votes

• Sanctions actually unified the Italian people behind Mussolini• British did not consider the closure of the Suez canal which might have

proven more effective• Hoare Laval Pact was a compromise plan- public outrage at the alleged

breaking of election promises spelt disaster for the plan• In May 1936 sanctions withdrawn- Chamberlain hoped to secure Italian

support by forgiving Italian ‘crimes’.

Hitler and Foreign Policy 1930-1935

• Should we view 1930 rather than 1933 as the key turning point in German foreign policy?

• Chancellorships of Bruning, Von Papen , Schleicher- created the ‘diplomatic-military instruments which Hitler was able to use in the early stages of the regime’

• Bruning cuts -govt expenditure- Germany feels full impact of the Depression- pushed up unemployment- further support for Nazis- he also wants to end reparations / begin rearmament

• So there is an argument that Hitler could use to reassure Britain- he was merely following the policies of his predecessors

Changes in German Foreign policy 1930

• Bruning suggests that Germany needed ‘an adequate natural area of living space’

• Bruning pushes for ending of reparations payments (finalised at Lausanne in June 1932)

• Bruning argues for German equality of rearmament’ threat of a walkout of World Disarmament Conference 1932

• German War Ministry finalises plans for large scale increase to military by 1938

Hitler

• AJP Taylor argues that Hitler isjust another ‘ordinary’ German politician• Following a traditional policy of making Germany ‘the greatest

power in Europe from her natural weight’- this done by exploiting every opportunity (Taylor)

• Structuralist / Intentionalist schools of thought on Hitler• ‘Mein Kampf as the ‘unchanging priorities’ or• Foreign Policy determined by economic pressures and

demands for action within the Nazi Party• Did Hitler perhaps intend to fight a series of wars which would

eventually culminate in a struggle for global hegemony?• Alan Bullock argues that the key to understanding Hitler’s

Foreign policy is that he combines ‘Consistency of aim with complete opportunism in method and tactics’

• To what extent was the concept of collective security / League of Nations in crisis by 1936?

• Analyse international diplomacy in the years 1929- 1936.

• In what ways and with what success did the League of Nations work to achieve collective security during the period 1925 – 1936?