Post-World War I Diplomacy: Shaping European Peace

Post-World War I Diplomacy: Conferences and Treaties (1921-1933)

Key International Agreements

Washington Naval Conference (1921-1922)

Following Japan's expansion in battleship construction, the USA became concerned about naval power in the Pacific. The Washington Naval Treaty stipulated that the Japanese Navy's size could not exceed three-fifths that of the U.S. Navy, aiming to limit naval arms and prevent an arms race.

The Genoa Conference (1922)

This conference proved to be a complete failure. Germany requested more time to pay its war reparations, but France, in urgent need of the funds, refused the request.

The Treaty of Rapallo (1922)

Signed by Germany and the USSR, this 10-year treaty established an alliance between the two nations. It allowed Germany to militarily recover on Russian territory and also facilitated the training of USSR troops to the same level as the Germans. This agreement was significant given the international isolation of both countries at the time.

The Dawes Plan (1924)

The Dawes Plan aimed to adjust the method of paying reparations, shifting from fixed annual payments to amounts Germany could reasonably afford at the time. This initiative was intended to prompt France to withdraw from the Ruhr region, which was in chaos due to French occupation. To assist with its economic problems, Germany received sizeable loans, mainly from the USA. Consequently, tensions were reduced, and France withdrew from the Ruhr.

The Locarno Treaties (1925)

The Locarno Treaties primarily aimed to foster good relationships between the participating countries. Similar to the Treaty of Versailles, a key difference was that Germany agreed to its terms and was present during the decision-making process, unlike at Versailles. The following year, in 1926, Germany was accepted into the League of Nations, having been considered equal to other European countries. This acceptance was largely due to Germany being perceived as a "peace-loving country."

The Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928)

Initially signed by the USA and France, the Kellogg-Briand Pact was eventually joined by 65 other countries. In this agreement, signatory nations pledged not to attack each other, effectively renouncing war as an instrument of national policy.

The Young Plan (1929)

As Germany's economy recovered, it faced the burden of repaying two loans. France agreed to significantly reduce the total reparations owed by Germany, from 6.6 billion pounds to 2 billion pounds, easing Germany's financial strain under the Young Plan.

The World Disarmament Conference (1932-1933)

This conference was largely a failure because most countries were unwilling to disarm. The only exception was Germany, which was obligated to disarm under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles.

Bilateral Relations in the Interwar Period

France and Germany

Up to 1924, France consistently aimed to keep Germany as weak as possible. This stance stemmed from Germany having invaded France twice in the preceding 50 years. France also sought to maintain strict control over Germany to prevent it from violating the Treaty of Versailles, which included provisions for:

• Reparations payments
• Demilitarization of the Rhineland
• Limits on the number of weapons and soldiers Germany could possess

The USSR and Germany

Initially, relations between the USSR and Germany were very poor due to Germany's strong anti-communist stance. However, as both the USSR and Germany found themselves internationally isolated, they formed a 10-year alliance (the Treaty of Rapallo). After this period, the Nazi Party came to power in Germany, which was a vehemently anti-communist party, leading to a deterioration of relations.

The USSR and France

France, being an anti-communist country, largely isolated the USSR from its diplomatic circles.

The USSR and Britain

Relations between the USSR and Britain fluctuated. If Britain needed the USSR, trade relations would commence; otherwise, they maintained a significant distance.