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Reasons why the British pursued a policy of Appeasement - Coggle Diagram
Reasons why the British pursued a policy of Appeasement
Defence priorities
Worried about cost of expenditure
The Treasury was putting pressure on the Foreign Office
They put forward a report on defence expenditure
In which the priorities for defence were to be, in order of importance:
The preservation of trade routes for the supply of food and raw materials
The defence of the Empire
Military preparation sufficient to repulse air attacks
The defence of Britain's allies
Global commitments
Had to consider worldwide commitments alongside their obligations to European countries and the League
Preservation and defence of the Empire was held to be essential
If Britain was to remain a great world power
Which was their priority
HOWEVER their imperial commitments were so vast that they were becoming really difficult to administer and defend
The Dominions (self-governing parts of British Empire)
Made it clear in 1937 Imperial Conference, that they weren't prepared to help Britain in another European war
The demands of the dictators seen as justified
Many British polititians belived that The Treaty of Versailles was unfair.
They belived Hitler had genuine grivances realted witht World War 1.
They shared a the thought that all the powers were responsible for the War, not just Germany.
Chamberlain had the mistaken believe he could do bussiness with Hitler and Mussolini without starting war.
Also, may politicians saw communism as a bigger threat than fascism.
Economic pressures
Britain was severely weakened by the First World War and the Great Depression.
It also faced high unemployment:
and this made it hard to gain sufficient funds for armament.
it was also feared that rearming too quickly could cause
a balance of payments crisis.
Public opinion:
Franchise Act (1918)
Increased the number of voter from 8 million to 21 million
Women over the age of 30 were allowed to vote
from 1928 this was lowered to the age of 21
Politicians were likely to notice public opinion
favored avoiding war and collective security
WW1 created widespread feeling that this should be "the war to end all wars"
Anti-war feeling - February 1933
German bomber aircraft destruction of Guernica in Spain 1937
Showed London's vulnerability to any attack in the air
Needed to prevent another war that would be devastating for the British civilians on the mainland
British public put faith in the League of Nations to maintain peace
More than 400,000 supporters in 1935
"peace ballot" in 1935
showed that the British public fully supported the League and its principles
The impact of Neville Chamberlain
Had to follow a policy that looked for conciliation
Instead of one that would confront Germany and Italy
Commitments of empire
Comments from the chiefs of Staff
Financial pressure
His own personal views had an impact
He detested war
Determined to resolve international tension
Use negotiation and diplomacy
to bring about a peaceful settlement of Europe
ran foreign policy alone
with the aid of his chief adviser Sir Horace Wilson
without consulting his Cabinet
Little faith in
The League
Britain's allies
(France and the USA)
Distrusted
Soviet Union
Believed Britain should take the lead in negotiating with Hitler
Even when war broke out
He still hoped that he could achieve a "general settlement" of Europe to maintain peace
The lack of an alternative policy
There wasn't a clear opposition to Appeasement
therefore
there was no party that would provide another alternative.
The Labour Party, who was in opposition,
supported collective security
but not rearmament.