Ch 2.3 - How successful were attempts to improve international relations from 1924-29?

Issues with German reparations

1. French and Belgian troops were occupying the Ruhr 2. Germany claimed it was unable to make the reparations payments 3. US insisted on full repayment of the loans it had made during WWI

Elements of the Dawes Plan 1924

1. French and Belgian troops would leave the Ruhr immediately 2. No reduction was made to the total amount Germany would have to pay in reparations, but it was agreed that Germany's annual payments were restricted to what "she could reasonably afford" 3. Germany's national bank would be restructured and supervised. 4. Germany received a sizeable foreign loan, mainly from the US

Zinoviev Letter

1924. This was a letter in which the head of the Comintern, Zinoviev, urged the British workers to provoke revolution in Great Britain. Publication of this letter in the British press was a major reason why the Conservative Party won the following election

Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928)

65 nations agreed to renounce war Was ultimately useless as there were no consequences if the agreement was broken

Gold Standard

A monetary system in which paper money and coins are equal to the value of a certain amount of gold. Intended to give a nation's currency international credibility

Detente

A process of lessening tension or growing relaxation between two states

Permanent Court of International Justice

An institution set up at The Hague, the Netherlands, by Article 14 of the Covenant of the League of Nations in 1920.

Treaty of Mutual Guarantee

Britain and Italy would come to the aid of any country who falls victim to an act of aggression in violation of the Locarno Treaties.

British and the USSR

Britain was one of the first nations to recognize the Bolshevik government. Broke off diplomatic relations in 1927 when the USSR encouraged independence movements in British-ruled India. A trade treaty in 1929 renewed relations

The Locarno Conference 1925

Considered a turning point in relations between France and Germany. Belgium, France, and Germany all agreed to respect their joint borders

European economies

Depended on Germany meeting its reparation payments

Purpose of the Dawes Plan 1924

Due to the French occupation of the Ruhr, this plan was devised to address the issue of German reparations

France and the USSR

Formal diplomatic relations were established in 1924 but little was done to improve the relationship until the 1930s when the Nazis rose to power in Germany

Effect of the Dawes Plan

France and Belgium withdrew from the Ruhr. Seemed to mark a significant change in French policy toward Germany

Aristide Briand

French Foreign Minister who took a more conciliatory approach towards Germany

Gustav Stresemann

German Foreign Minister who won a Nobel Peace Prize for his work at the Locarno Conference

Germany

Had invaded France twice in less than 50 years

German measures to stabilize the mark

In November 1924 the devalued German currency was temporarily replaced by the Rentenmark and then in August 1924 by the new Reichsmark, which was put on the gold standard. Theoretically this meant that paper banknotes could be converted into agreed, fixed quantities of gold

Austen Chamberlain

Member of Lloyd George's government and the British Foreign Secretary, half brother of Neville Chamberlain

The Young Plan (1929)

Reduced the total sum of German reparation from £6.6 billion to £2 billion and dismantled the international controls over the German economy. Was essentially an admission that the figure set in 1921 was too high. Became the best example of Frances's new willingness to compromise when it came to Germany

US Sentate

Refused to ratify the Treaty of Versailles and refused to join the League of Nations, made a separate peace settlement with Germany which made France feel insecure

Treaty of Berlin 1926

Renewed the Rapallo Pact

The Little Entente

The French alliance between the smaller countries of Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia.

Locarno Spirit

The optimistic mood of reconciliation and compromise that swept through Europe after the signing of the Locarno Treaties.

Criticisms of the Locarno Treaties

Treaties did nothing to secure Germany's borders with Poland and Czechoslovakia Britain was not fully committed to taking military action to enforce the agreements made at Locarno

Frank Kellogg

US lawyer, statesman, Senator, and Secretary of State. For his part in negotiating the Kellogg-Briand Pact he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1929

Fulfilment

a policy aimed by Germany at extracting concessions from Britain and France attempting to fulfill the Treaty of Versailles

Bilateral

agreement or action between or by two states

multilateral

agreements or action between or by more than two states

Cologne Zone

area around Cologne occupied by the British

France

developed an uncompromising position towards Germany, Invaded the Ruhr, and damaged their relationship with Britain

US Loans during WWI

provided loans to assist the European allies and insisted on them being repaid in full

USSR

resentful that they were not allowed to join the League of Nations - saw it was a way to preserve the power and influence of Britain and France