This ignorance was overlooked as Chamberlain believed in personal diplomacy and personal foreign policy as he disregarded the League of Nations and the foreign ministers by trying always to appease and avoid conflict as his cousin Kia had died in the first war, leading Chamberlain to be more pacifist in his views and believing in Hitler.
As well as Europe, Britain had to be mainly concerned about the rest of her empire. There was unrest in Africa and India as they wished to be more independent of Britain. The rest of the Dominions like Canada, New Zealand and Australia were not prepared to go into a war at this time when Europe had nothing to do with them. Chamberlain would face a complete lack of foreign support if he were to go into a war at this time over Czechoslovakia so he accepted the Munich Agreement as he know he would have no military support from other countries except France whose arm was weak and inadequate which meant huddling behind the maginot line.
Chamberlain like any other good statesman believed that a good economy was the 'arm of defence' and Britain which was still recovering from the world depression after the Stock Crash (33), was not prepared for war as they had as a response started a disarmament programme to reduce public spending and to encourage peace throughout the world. There had been many treaties like the Washington treaty
where other countries like France agreed to start disarming. Britain did not have a war economy in 38, and there wiykd again be no support from the public for the spending on arms. This along with the factor in question were major reasons for the acceptance of a country to be carved up to Hitler. The real major factor is that which is in the question, a lack of British military strength in '38.
Britain (as previously mentioned) had been going through a period of disarmament and would not have been prepared for war if the Munich Agreement hadn't been made. Britains already lacking resources were spread around the globe to maintain her empire and her position in Europe was not to be invaded but to just mediate between the countries. It was definitely spread thin the resources. After the Munich Agreement of course things changed and Chamberlain 'hoped for the best and was prepared for the worst' and made Britain start to rearm quickly due to ever growing mistrust of Hitler, whilst in '38 he still considered him a 'good sort' who would abide to their Agreement. Some Politicians were quite opposed to this appeasement due to Hitlers 'bully boy' tactics believing that if he was appeased it would only wet his appetite for more. However, intelligence at the time showed Germany's ever growing rearmament and seeing this Britains was no match for theirs in '38 and it was a good reason to carry on appeasing. Another reason was intelligence also had shown that German troops were heading for Czechoslovakia
and that an invasion was imminent which at the time wasn't, it was being through of but troops hadn't been immediately deployed. These military reasons were all very important, as a consequence Chamberlain agreed to carve up an ally without their consent but tried to act and do good by promising to aid Czechoslovakia if there was to be an invasion; which in the end he did not do.
It can be seen from the evidence provided at the time that it was not just Britains lack of military strength that led to Chamberlain agreeing in Munich but the extent of which the military actually covered, the empire, lack of foreign support lack of public support, the economy, ignorance and personal diplomacy were very important also on this. The extent of the military factor was indeed very wide ranging but the other factors played major roles, one of the major ones is, in general, the complete lack of support, British public were still under the same opinion as when Germany remilitarised the Rhineland, 'the Jerry can do what he likes in his own back yard', (a quote from a taxi driver to Lord Lothian). This was only later to change after Kristallnacht (also in '38) and then foreign policy will move to one of seeking alliance with other countries like the USSR and to secure a right wing fascist country, Poland I conclude that Chamberlain really did not have any other realistic options than to sign the Munich Agreement and the major factor I believe would have been on his mind is the lacking in the British military as well as sentimentally his cousin Kia and how by doing this he would save the lives of other men only to a year later on the 3 September send them to war, after the invasion of Poland the 1 September.
Examiners comment
Question is understood and kept in focus throughout. Considers a number of factors - some in clearer and better detail than others. "Extent" explicitly handled in different place
L4 46/60
