"The Versailles Peace Settlement failed to secure British Foreign Policy interests"

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Milestone 2

9/10/05

"The Versailles Peace Settlement failed to secure British Foreign Policy interests"

How far do you agree with this view?

PLAN

) British Foreign Policy interests at the time

Peace - Britain had everything to lose and nothing to gain from a war.

Balance of Power - Best insurance against renewal of war.

Global interests rather than just continental. Preservation of empire

Preservation of navy - had best navy fleet.

Remain on good terms with USA - expenses.

Britain needed to be defended - Security of UK

- Protection of trade routes

- Defence of the empire

- Co-operate in defence of British allies.

2) The main aims of the Versailles settlement

Make it so that Germany could not gain power (military or other) and cause threat.

Reparations to be paid

Army and navy cut (100,000 men)

Acceptance of war guilt

Union of Austria and Germany banned

Demilitarisation of Rhineland and occupation of Ruhr

3) What British Government thought about the Treaty.

Unfair to Germany - Peace should be restored

4) How it did secure British foreign policy.

Meant that Germany could not expand - No threat to Britain

With reparations to pay Britain could get some money to rebuild bigger army

German Navy belittled, meant Britain had no threat of being challenged

If Britain agreed with USA this wouldn't lead to conflict.

5) How it didn't (failed to) secure British Foreign policy

Did not enforce restrictions on armaments

Very little was paid in terms of reparations

ESSAY

There are reasons for why the Versailles Peace Settlement both did and did not in some respects secure British Foreign Policy at the time it was announced and the years following. Main foreign policy for the British government revolved around European Peace, global as well as continental (like most of its policies) so that Britain could protect the empire that she had previously built up. After its loss of life in world war one, although a victor, Britain did not have the resources or expenses to enter into another war, therefore it had everything it had left to lose and very little, possible nothing to gain. Staying out of any major conflict was also a good idea for Britain, especially with the USA because Britain did not have the finances to support a conflict. The best way to stop the renewal of war was to keep a balance of power; this is a realist theory in international relations. In parliamentary politics, a balance of power refers to the position held by one party, or a coalition, whose support of a minority parliament, can give a major party enough votes to be able to form a stable government. This can be achieved either by the formation of a coalition government, or by voting with the party in power to prevent its defeat. Britain also needed to be defended both internally and externally. The trade routes that Britain used were mainly through france and Germany into other neighbouring countries, without this entry, Britains trade would decrease, meaning unemployment and reduced customer demand. Without the trade from the other countries, Britain would have nothing to trade its own goods with and therefore the British people would have to buy there own produce. She (Britain) also needed to be eqipped to defend her allies if they needed, this would take time and money which, at that time Britain did not have. Vital interests in Europe were limited to ensuring initially the security of France, Belgium and Holland, whence attacks could be launched against the British Isles by sea or by air. Eastern Europe was never considered one of British vital interests, however it was seen as a vital interest for Germany (except Greece because of its location on the Mediterranean.) Britain was also interested in Turkish security, because of the channel.
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