Austen Chamberlain and the Commitment to Europe: British Foreign Policy 1924-1929

by Grayson; RICHARD S

• ISBN13: 9780714643199
• ISBN10: 071464319X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 1997-08-13
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

This book fills a major gap in the study of inter-war British foreign policy: it is the first complete study of Austen Chamberlain's term of office as Stanley Baldwin's Foreign Secretary from 1924-29.

Author Biography

Dr Richard S. Grayson is an Associate Lecturer with the Open University

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
Acknowledgements	p. xiii
List of Abbreviations	p. xvii
The Journey to the Foreign Office
Introduction	p. 1
His Father's Son	p. 2
Involvement in Foreign Affairs before 1922	p. 4
Returning to the Fold and Ditching Joe	p. 5
To the Foreign Office	p. 8
Conclusion	p. 10
The Diplomatic Machine
Introduction	p. 14
Foreign Office Reforms before 1924	p. 14
The Staff and Structure of the Foreign Office	p. 15
Diplomats Abroad	p. 19
Inter-departmental Relations	p. 21
An Empire Foreign Policy?	p. 23
The Cabinet in November 1924	p. 24
Conclusion	p. 27
Calming France: The Security Question, November 1924 to December 1925
Introduction	p. 31
France and the Geneva Protocol	p. 33
The Committee of Imperial Defence: 4 and 16 December 1924	p. 35
Alternatives to the Protocol	p. 37
The Dominions and European Security	p. 41
The Evacuation of the Cologne Zone	p. 42
The Committee of Imperial Defence: 13 and 19 February 1925	p. 43
Austen Chamberlain's Alternative	p. 44
The Protocol Rejected	p. 47
Chamberlain in Geneva and Paris	p. 50
The Treaty of Mutual Guarantee	p. 57
The Locarno Agreements	p. 63
The Dominions and Locarno	p. 66
Conclusion	p. 66
The League of Nations as the Concert of Europe?
Introduction	p. 76
British Policy and the League	p. 77
Chamberlain's Critics	p. 78
Chamberlain's Intentions	p. 80
A Limited League	p. 81
A Developing League	p. 82
Germany Joins the Concert	p. 86
The Concert in Action	p. 94
British Interests	p. 105
Conclusion	p. 106
Calming Germany: The Locarno System, 1926-29
Introduction	p. 116
Chamberlain's Policy	p. 117
Chamberlain as Mediator	p. 120
Italy	p. 122
Revising Germany's Eastern and Southern Borders	p. 124
Military Questions, Minorities and Reparations	p. 128
Conclusion	p. 135
Disarmament and the USA
Introduction	p. 146
Chamberlain on Disarmament and the USA	p. 147
The Preparatory Commission	p. 150
The Geneva Naval Conference	p. 153
Chamberlain Looks West	p. 157
Conclusion	p. 164
Appeasing China
Introduction	p. 170
Japan and the Singapore Naval Base	p. 173
Initiatives from the Foreign Office	p. 174
Shanghai and Canton: Chamberlain in Control	p. 176
Planning the Tariff Conference	p. 178
The Tariff Conference: the Peking Legation in Control	p. 179
The December Memorandum	p. 181
Shanghai: the Cabinet in Control	p. 187
The Nanking Outrage: Chamberlain takes on the Foreign Office	p. 193
Chiang's Victory	p. 196
Inter-departmental Disputes	p. 198
Conclusion	p. 201
The Middle East and North Africa
Introduction	p. 212
The Route to India: Egypt	p. 214
The Route to India: Arabia	p. 220
Maintaining the Mandate for Iraq	p. 224
Western Powers in North Africa and the Middle East: Morocco and Syria	p. 231
The Soviet Threat: Persia and Afghanistan	p. 236
Conclusion	p. 241
The Soviet Union and the Border States
Introduction	p. 253
Development of a Policy	p. 255
Trade as Policy	p. 259
Hanging On	p. 260
Diplomatic Rupture	p. 263
Plans for War	p. 266
Conclusion	p. 268
Epilogue
The Contemporary Verdict	p. 274
The Second Labour Government	p. 276
Chamberlain's Career to 1937	p. 277
Conclusion	p. 280
Bibliography	p. 286
Index	p. 311
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