Strange Allies: Britain, France and the Dilemmas of Disarmament and Security, 1929-1933(Routledge Studies in Modern European History)

Strange Allies examines three intersecting themes of fundamental importance to the international history of the period between the two world wars. First, and most broadly, it is a study of the international history of the pivotal ‘hinge years’, running from the onset of the Depression in late 1929 to the Nazi capture of power in Germany in early 1933. The second theme is the strategic relationship between Britain and France, the critical dynamic in the management of global and European international relations during this time of great fluidity and uncertainty. The most contentious and intractable issue that divided the two countries was the pursuit of international disarmament, which forms the third theme of the book. Strange Allies is based upon extensive research in British and French archives, as well as in the archives of the League of Nations in Geneva. The book’s focus on 1929–31 in particular makes a major contribution to the international history of the interwar period by re-examining the security and strategic policies of the second Labour government in Britain and of foreign minister Aristide Briand in the post-Locarno years in France. For 1931–33, the book looks at the impact of the great financial and economic crisis of 1931 on security and disarmament planning in Britain and France. It then considers the impact of the Anglo-French relationship on the instability of Europe and on the failure of the World Disarmament Conference. This book is the first detailed study of the Anglo-French relationship during a critical period which saw a reshaping of the boundaries of global security. Although the Anglo-French alliance is rightly seen to be pivotal to both the initial phase of implementing the Versailles settlement of 1919 and the efforts to contain Hitler and protect Europe after 1936, Strange Allies demonstrates the degree to which these states’ conflicting views of security were central to international relations in the years leading up to Hitler’s accession to power.

Table of Contents:
List of tables Acknowledgements List of abbreviations Introduction Chapter One The trials of victory: France, Britain and disarmament after the Great War Chapter Two Allies of yesterday: Britain in 1929 Chapter Three Security is the guardian of peace: France in 1929 Chapter Four An opening clash: Reparations and the Rhineland Chapter Five Alternative paths: European union, international arbitration and general disarmament at the League Assembly Chapter Six The battle of London: The continuing pursuit of naval disarmament Chapter Seven The problems of 1930: The Rhineland, arbitration and European union Chapter Eight Enfin désarmement: The Preparatory Commission concludes Chapter Nine Annus terribilis: 1931 as a year of crisis Chapter Ten Missed opportunity: preparing for the World Disarmament Conference Chapter Eleven Collapsing centre: the World Disarmament Conference, 1932-33 Conclusion Bibliography Index

About the Author :
Andrew Webster is Senior Lecturer in Modern European History at Murdoch University, Australia.

Review :
"This meticulously researched monograph is evidently amagnificent addition to the literature on this inexhaustible subject,and future scholars will find its state-of-the-art classified 31-page bibliography, which includes archives, articles and theses,invaluable." - Antoine Capet, University of Rouen, Francia