Disarmament

LEAGUE LARGELY FAILED TO BRING ABOUT DISARMAMENT IN THE 1920'S

1921 Washington Conference

• USA< Japan, Britain, and France agreed to limit size of navies.

Locarno Treaties (1925)

• Germany agreed borders with France and Belgium as in the Treaty of Versailles (but nothing on Eastern borders)
• Britain and Italy agreed to protect France if Germany attacked.
• Germany accepted Rhineland as a de-militarised zone.
• France and Germany agreed to settle future disputes through the league.
• France was really pleased - fireworks and church bells.
• This paved the way for Germany to join the League of Nations in 1926.

Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928)

• Signed by 65 nations.
• All parties condemn war as a means of settling disputes.
• Noting to say what would happen if someone did declare war.
• This was looked on as a turning point in History and people thought the world was getting a safer place.

Other Treaties

• Dawes Plan 1924 - USA lent money to pay reparations.
• Rapallo Treaty 1922 - Russia and Germany re-established diplomatic relationship.
• Young Plan 1929 - Reduced Germany's reparations.

Economic recovery meant that countries were less likely to fight each other.

1930's

• Disarmament failure in 1930's
• 1920's international relations better so disarmament didn't matter.
• 1930's league was under more pressure.
• Germany was angry that no other nations were forced to disarm.
• 1923 Disarmament conference resolved to:
• Prohibit bombing of civilian populations.
• Limit artillery size.
• Limit tonnage of tanks.
• Prohibit chemical warfare.