The Rhineland crisis and the British position

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The Rhineland crisis and the British position
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Context

• Violation of Treaty of Versailles (demilitarised
  zone)
• Violation of treaty of Locarno a treaty to which
  even the German public had agreed
• Put Europe at risk of war
• Pact between France and Russia was used to excuse
  Hitler

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British military position

• Less spending on armaments in the years before
  the war
• The Conservatives had spent 116 million in
  1926-7 compared to Labour in 1930-31 110 million
• National gov. 102 million in 1932-3

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British military position

• Economic problems had also led to under
  investment in armed forces
• Therefore not prepared for a war despite
  Churchill pressing the gov. after 1933
• Believe that Germany was heavily armed

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British military position

• Already committed themselves to a naval presence
  in Mediterranean as a result of the Abyssinian
  affair

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Issues facing the government

• Should they confront Hitler?
• Government encouraged by Hitlers offer of future
  arms limitations
• Attempted to pacify the French and sought
  goodwill gesture from Germany to avoid war
• Willing to see action as a revision of Versailles

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Issues facing the government

• No troops/arms available
• Distracted by Abyssinia
• The Peace Ballot of 1935 a National referendum
  where millions voted for peace made it clear that
  the public would not support another war

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Issues facing the government

• Sentiment also represented in numerous
  by-elections in 1933
• Famous of all was at East Fulham in October 1933
• John Wilmot, Labour campaigned on a disarmament
  platform and won with a swing of 26

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Public/ politician majority view

• Hitlers action were dangerous but justifiable
• Most against the action HOWEVER
• Treaty of Versailles was too harsh
• Hitler was only going into his own back yard
• More concerned about communism and Mussolini

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Public/ politician majority view

• Anti- French views in the wake of the Hoare-Laval
  fiasco
• Sanctions against Germany would hit economy hard
  (already in force against Italy)
• Strong pacifist feelings

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Politicians views

• Baldwin against a French move against Germany
• Churchill, Duff Cooper saw action as serious but
  this was the minority view
• Churchill Wanted collective security through the
  league
• Others warned of the strategic dangers of this
  move

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Politicians views

• However Baldwin and Eden determined to appease
  Hitler