Many agreements had been made outside of the League of Nations. Most of these were very successful these agreements include: -
1. The Washington Conference
2. Rapallo treaty
3. The Dawes plan
4. Locarno Pact
5. Kellog-Briand Pact
6. Young Plan
The Washington conference was a total success. The aim of the Washington Conference was to disarm Navies only. The Washington conference was in 1921. It was a success, because it concentrated on one thing to disarm rather than the League which tried to disarm the complete armies. The Washington Conference was also successful because it was held in America; America was an important factor because they are a major superpower who is not concerned about little problems in Europe. This means hey are a good mediator.
The Rapallo Treaty was a step in the right direction for Germany, as it restores diplomatic relations between the USSR and Germany. The Rapallo Treaty was signed in 1922.
The Dawes Plan was both a success and a failure. The Dawes plan was designed by America to give a chance of economic recovery to Germany. America gave a series of loans to Germany to help them pay off their reparations. The money rebuilt industry which in turn increased employment. This meant an increase of international trade. With international trade at a high Germany is not going to want to fight a trading partner. With good Trade comes good profit, some of this profit goes back into rebuilding industry, some of it pays off the loan from America and the rest goes to pay off reparations. This plan did not reduce Germanys payments so Germany were still annoyed with this so in 1929 The Young plan was introduced. This plan was designed to reduce Germany’s repayments. This is another plan which didn’t make a difference towards World Peace, as it was too little too late.
The Locarno pact guaranteed borders in Western Europe. This means that France is guaranteed Alsace Lorraine and If Germany try to take it; Belgium, Great Britain and Italy would come and help defeat Germany. However that isn’t the biggest strength. Its biggest strength is that this agreement works the other way around. If France invaded Germany Belgium, Great Britain and Italy will come in and help Germany defeat France. France Partly wanted this as they have always wanted an alliance with Britain, but before France had always been cheated out of their alliance. Therefore France wouldn’t want to break this agreement.
In the Locarno pact the borders in Eastern Europe were not guaranteed like in the West. The borders could be changed but no force would be needed. The border changes would be decided by discussion. This made Germany think that they would possibly be able to get the Polish Corridor back. However a Clause written into the pact was that France would have to be consulted over any decision. France wanted Germany to get the harshest treatment possible, France would simply say, “No, you can’t have that piece of land back” and Germany could not have it.
Overall a major problem with Locarno is that it had nothing to enforce it.
The Kellog-Briand pact condemns war as a policy of solving disputes. It makes people promise to use peaceful means to solve disputes. People were very optimistic as sixty-one countries signed this pact. However it had lots of weaknesses. Its biggest weakness is it is only a promise it can be broken. Also if someone from outside the pact attacked someone inside the pact. The country inside the pact can do nothing.
My overall opinion is that by 1929 the world had made a brilliant effort towards avoiding another World War. They had made so many Pacts and Treaties. However the only problem is that all these pacts cannot be enforced so this just puts them to a grinding halt. I feel the real turning point was later on in the 1930’s when Hitler came to power and took Germany out of the League of Nations.
