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Why did Britain and France follow a policy of appeasement for most of the…
Why did Britain and France follow a policy of appeasement for most of the 1930s?
Britain
Public opinion
Against war and in favour of collective security
The demands of the dictators seen as justified
Many British politicians felt that the Treaty of Versailles was too harsh
Thus
Thre was support for the idea of revising the more punitive clauses of the treaty
Chamberlainn believed
Possible to do business with Mussolini and Hitler
Sort out the grievances rationally
Whithout war
Many conservative politicians saw the threat of
communism
as more dangerous than the threat of
fascism
The lack of an alternative policy
There was no clear anti-appeasement party
Labour Party
Supported collective security
Did not support rearmament
Economic pressures
Great Drepression
Worsen Britain's economic situation
1930s
Britian was facing a competition from other countries that were overtaking its
industrial pruduction
High unemployment
Global commitments
Britain's imperial commitments were so vast that they were becoming increasingly dificult to administer and defend
Dominios (self-governing parts of the British Empire)
Canada
Australia
Made it clear at the 1937
Imperial Conference
that they were not prepared to help Britain in another European War
New Zeland
Defence priority
1927 Treasury put froward a report on defence expenditure in which the priorities for the defence were to be
Military preparation sufficient to repulse air attacks
Preservation of trade unions for the supply of food and raw materials
Defence of the Empire
Defense of Britain's allies
The impact of Nerville Chamberlain
He detested war
Was determined to resolve international tension
Use of negotiation and diplomacy to bring a peaceful settlement of Europe
He has a little faith in the League or Britain's allies (France & USA)
He believed that Britain sould take the lead in negotiating with Hitler
France
Frequent changes of goverments
Economic pressures
Growth of right-wing leagues
Great Drepression
Franc had been overvalued
Exports fell
Unemployment increased
Ideological conflicts
Weak foce
Ineffectual air force
Limited army
Dependent on Britain
Britain decided on a policy of appeasement in the 1930s
France
had to follow its strongest ally's line
Hard to spend money on armaments