To what extent was there stability in Europe in the 1920's

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Sophie Thompson

To what extent was there stability in Europe in the 1920’s?

In the 1920’s there was many changes that improved Europe but there was some that caused many problems. Many Historians have questioned the stability of Europe in the 1920’s. The following points give evidence of this stability:

Washington Conference 1921

Rapello Treaty 1924

Dawes Plan 1924

Locano Treaties 1925

Kellogg-Briand Pact 1928

Young Plan 1929

The League of Nations and its solving of a number of minor international disputes.

Germany joins League of Nations

Disarmament in Germany

‘The Booming Twenties’

  Stability in the 1920’s was becoming reality. In the Washington conference involving USA, Britain, France and Japan had all agreed to limit the size of their navies. In the Rapello Treaty the USSR and Germany re-established diplomatic relations.  In the Dawes Plan the USA lent money to Germany to avert a terrible economic crisis. In the Locano Treaties Germany accepts its western borders as set out in the Treaty of Versailles. In the Kellogg- Briand Pact 65 nations agreed not to use force to settle disputes. In the Young Plan Germany’s reparations are reduced.

  The Dawes Plan in 1924 was a great success. When the German government failed to to keep up the payments in 1923 French and Belgian troops occupied the . This was followed by massive  and growing  in Germany. The American Banker Charles Dawes was asked to investigate this problem. He came up with a plan for instituting annual payments of reparations on a fixed scale. He also recommended the reorganization of the German State Bank and increased foreign loans. By doing this meant that massive figures were being cancelled out. The currency was stabilized and  was brought under control. Large loans were raised in the  and this investment resulted in a fall in . The Plan had helped to sort out Germany’s economic chaos and had also helped to get the economies of Britain and France moving again. The recovery of trading relationships between these countries helped to reduce tension.

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   In October 1925 representatives of France, Britain, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Poland, met in Locarno in Switzerland. The agreements decided were:

  • Germany finally accepted the borders with France and Belgium.
  • Germany accepted that the Rhineland would remain a demilitarized zone.
  • France and Germany agreed to settle any future disputes through the League of Nations.

The Locarno agreements were greeted with terrific enthusiasm and celebrated. The agreements led to Germany to join the League of Nations in 1926. Austen Chamberlain, British Foreign secretary, gives his judgement on the Locarno Treaties in 1925. ‘A great work of ...

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