Guarantee of Peace: The League of Nations in British Policy 1914-1925OUP Oxford, 2009 M01 15 - 410 pages Peter Yearwood reconsiders the League of Nations, not as an attempt to realize an idea but as an element in the day-to-day conduct of Britain's foreign policy and domestic politics during the period 1914-25. He challenges the usual view that London reluctantly adopted the idea in response to pressure from Woodrow Wilson and from domestic public opinion, and that it was particularly wary of ideas of collective security. Instead he examines how London actively promoted the idea to manage Anglo-American relations in war and to provide the context for an enduring hegemonic partnership. The book breaks new ground in examining how London tried to use the League in the crises of the early 1920s: Armenia, Persia, Vilna, Upper Silesia, Albania, and Corfu. It shows how in the negotiations leading to the Draft Treaty of Mutual Assistance, the Geneva Protocol, and the Locarno accords, Robert Cecil, Ramsay MacDonald, and Austen Chamberlain tried to solve the Franco-German security question through the League. This involves a re-examination of how these leaders tried to use the League as an issue in British domestic politics and why it emerged as central to British foreign policy. Based on extensive, detailed archival research, this book provides a new and authoritative account of a largely misunderstood topic. |
Contents
The League in British Policy | 1 |
A Guarantee of Peace 19141917 | 7 |
Beyond the Guarantee of Peace 19171918 | 40 |
The Creation of the League 19181919 | 88 |
The First Years of the League 19191921 | 138 |
Lord Robert Cecil and the Treaty of Mutual Assistance 19221923 | 211 |
The Corfu Crisis 1923 | 251 |
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Guarantee of Peace: The League of Nations in British Policy 1914-1925 Peter J. Yearwood Limited preview - 2009 |
Common terms and phrases
accept action agreed Allied already American appeared Baldwin Balfour become believed Britain British Cabinet Cecil Chamberlain claimed commitment Committee conference considered continued Council Covenant Crowe Curzon DBFP decision diary disarmament discussion draft Drummond economic effective establishment Europe European eventually Fisher followed force Foreign Office France French Geneva Germany give Grey guarantee Hankey hoped House idea important insisted interests Italy July June Labour later League of Nations Liberal Lloyd George London Lord MacDonald matters meeting memo military negotiations Nicolson noted opinion Paris party peace political position possible present President Prime Minister principle proposals Protocol question quotation rejected remained Secretary seemed Sept settlement suggested thought told treaty United wanted Wilson