Theme 2: International Relations in an Age of Uncertainty (1919-1933)

1. Theme 2: International Relations in an Age of Uncertainty (1919-1933)

2. The Peace Settlements of 1919-1920

3. “The Fourteen Points” Speech – given January 1918 • Wilson’s aims • Avoiding secret treaties, freedom of the seas, no trade barriers, self-determination, creation of the League of Nations

4. Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918) • Why did Lenin want to withdraw from WWI? • Lenin wanted to focus on creating his Bolshevik government and thought it was in Russia’s best interest to focus on problems at home • Terms • Russia lost Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Georgia, and Finland. Russia lost 25% of its population. 25% of its industry, and 90% of its coal mines • Implications • Germany was now fighting a single front war and could focus all of its forces on fighting France

5. Different aims of peacemakers • Wilson • Wanted a lenient peace based on the Fourteen Points • Clemenceau • Wanted to destroy Germany both economically and militarily so Germany could never again be a threat to France • Lloyd George • Wanted to help Germany recover to continue trade, but had promised the anti-German British that he would “make Germany pay” • Orlando • Was less concerned with Germany, just wanted the land promised when Italy joined the Allies

6. Problems faced by the peacemakers • Empires Falling • The ongoing disintegration of the Habsburg, Turkish and Russian empires

7. The treaty of Versailles 1919

8. Germany’s territorial losses • Alsace and Lorraine to France • Eupen and Malmedy to Belgium • Northern Schleswig to Denmark • The Saar valley would hold a plebiscite • The Rhineland was demilitarized • West Prussia went to Poland • Memel went to Lithuania • Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania became independent states • The African colonies became mandates

9. German Military • Limited to 100,000 troops • no tanks, aircraft, or submarines • a maximum 6 battleships • Anschluss • Union with Austria was forbidden • “War Guilt” Clause • Blamed Germany for the war and was used as justification for reparations • Reparations • Germany was forced to pay 6.6 Billion pounds as compensation for damage done during the war • German Resentment • Felt the treaty was forced upon them, unfair and not related to Wilson’s Fourteen Points

10. Other Treaties

11. Saint-Germain • Date: • 1919 • Main Country involved: • Austria • Outcome: • Austria lost land to Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Poland, and Italy

12. Neuilly • Date: • 1919 • Main Country involved: • Bulgaria • Outcome: • Bulgaria lost territory to Greece, Yugoslavia, and Romania

13. Sevres • Date: • 1920 • Main Country involved: • Turkey • Outcome: • Turkey lost territory to Greece and Italy, Other parts were mandated to France and Britain, and the Dardanelles were opened to all shipping

14. Trianon • Date: • 1920 • Main Country involved: • Hungary • Outcome: • Hungary lost territory to Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and Romania

15. Successor States

16. Definition • The name given to new national states whose existence was confirmed by the Paris peace settlement • Examples of Successor States • Yugoslavia • Poland • Czechoslovakia • Austria • Hungary • Problems with successor states • All suffered political, economic, and social problems

17. The League of NATIONS

18. A Clause in Each of the Treaties • Shows Wilson’s commitment to forming a League of Nations • Aims of the League • To prevent future wars • maintain security for all countries

19. Attempts to improve International Relations

20. USA Refuses to Ratify the Peace Treaty • Why? • Americans wanted to return to isolationism • Implications • France continued to feel insecure with no guarantee of US aid in the event of an attack by a resurgent Germany

21. Poor relations between France and Britain • What caused their strained relationship? • The different attitudes toward Germany recovery

22. Fear of communism • Worldwide Concern • Russians fear isolation as other countries view communism with suspicion and fear of communist revolutions in more countries • Implications for France • The loss of another potential ally against Germany

23. Border Disputes arising from the settlement • Example: • Turkey and Greece, leading to a revision of the settlement, first successful challenge of the post-war settlement

24. USA’s concern over Japanese expansion • Leads to the Washington Naval Conference • Date: • 1921-1922 • Purpose: • to make peace in the Far East • Outcome: • Limited Japanese Navy, No new Western Naval bases, Japan, Britain and the USA would aid China if attacked

25. USA’S INSISTANCE THAT WAR DEBTS WERE REPAID • Economic Implications • Most countries were struggling to rebuild their economies, only way to pay debts was to make sure Germany paid their reparations

26. French occupation of the Ruhr • France’s Motives • Germany failed to pay the reparations, French took Germany’s most important industrial region by way of payment

27. Improving Relations 1923-33

28. Genoa Conference • Date: • 1922 • Purpose/aims: • settle the issue of German reparations • Outcome: • Nothing was achieved

29. The Dawes Plan • Date: • 1924 • Purpose/aims: • address the issue of German reparations and the French invasion of the Ruhr • Implications: • Germany could pay what it could reasonably afford, loan from the USA

30. The Locarno Treaties • Date: • 1925 • Purpose/aims: • Germany, France, and Belgium would respect joint boarders • Treaty of Mutual Guarantee: • Britain, and Italy would come to the assistance of country who fell victim to a violation of the Locarno Treaties • Implications for France and Germany: • First effective working relationship

31. The Kellogg-Briand Pact • Date: • 1928 • Purpose/Aims: • intended to maintain peace • Outcome: • little real value, no consequences

32. The Young Plan • Date: • 1929 • Purpose/Aims: • discuss the issue of German reparations • Outcome: • reduction in the amount of German reparations

33. The World Disarmament Conference • Date: • 1932-33 • Purpose/Aims: • address the issue of disarmament in hopes of avoiding another arms race • Outcome: • failure to reach an agreement

34. Problems in Europe

35. France and Germany

36. Poor relations prior to 1925 • Why? • France had been invaded by Germany twice in less than 50 years, Fear of German revival • France adopts tough and uncompromising policy toward Germany after WWI • Insistence that Germany paid reparations in full • French Occupation of the Ruhr • Date: • 1923 • France’s Motives: • Wanted Germany to pay back reparations • Opposition from Britain: • Britain wanted economic recovery for Germany

37. Improving relations after 1925 • Examples of France’s willingness to compromise with Germany • The Locarno Treaties, the Kellogg-Briand Pact, and the Young Plan • Evidence of France's continuing fear of Germany • The French began developing a series of alliances with states in Eastern Europe, these alliances became known as the Little Entente. The French also pushed for the development of a strong League of Nations

38. The USSR AND Germany

39. Why did Lenin realize that Russia’s future depended on peaceful co-existence and economic cooperation with other countries? • Other nations were fearful of communism. Russia was not invited to the Paris Peace Conference or invited to join the League of Nations. Lenin feared becoming isolated.

40. Treaty of Rapallo • Date • 1922 • Terms • Established friendly relations between Germany and the USSR. • Implications • Caused concern in Europe, particularly Britain and France • Treaty of Berlin (1926) • Renewed the Treaty of Rapallo for 5 more years

41. The USSR and France

42. French fears of the USSR • French resentful of Bolsheviks success in Russia • Taken away an ally and fear of communist revolution taking hold in France • Paris Peace Talks • France had insisted that Russia not be represented at the peace talks

43. Diplomatic Relations • When were formal relations restored? • In 1924 • Little effort to enhance relationships until 1930s • When increasing fear of German Nazism forced the two together

44. The USSR and Britain

45. Inconsistent Relationships • Angelo-Russian Trade Treaty • Britain became the first country to formally recognize Russia’s Bolshevik government • Breaking off diplomatic relations in 1927 • The USSR was encouraging independence movements in British-owned India • Trading agreements • Restored in 1929 • Trading agreements cancelled again • Cancelled in 1932, Russia responded by arresting four Moscow-based British engineers on charges of spying

46. American Foreign Policy

47. Reasons for the USA’s return to Isolationism • Fear of War • Wilson had promised not to get involved in WWI, Americans believed WWI was caused by bickering and selfish national interests of Europe • Internationalism • The foreign policy favored by President Wilson, whereby the USA would play a leading role in international affairs in order to ensure future world peace and stability • American Public Opinion • Favored isolationism

48. Implications Of USA’S return to Isolationism • European relations • Removed France’s guarantee of US (and British) support in the event of another Germany attack, also set the tone for the French foreign policy • League of Nations • Undermined the credibility and potential effectiveness of the League of Nations

49. Implications of US Insistence on the Repayment of War Debts • European Allies’ feelings • Had hoped the debts would be cancelled • Allies’ inability to pay • The only way they could pay is if Germany paid their reparations • US help is needed to repay debts • USA provided Germany with loans to pay reparations to Britain, France, and Italy who used that money to pay back the USA

50. The Wall Street Crash