British Foreign Secretaries in an Uncertain World, 1919-1939: (British Politics and Society)

The nature of international diplomacy and Britain's world role changed immeasurably after the end of the First World War, and this book shows how the various men who headed the Foreign Office during the interwar years sought to operate in the shifting political and bureaucratic environments that confronted them. "British Foreign Secretaries in an Uncertain World" examines the careers of each of the interwar Foreign Secretaries, including Lord Curzon, Ramsay MacDonald and Anthony Eden. Using an extensive range of primary sources both published and unpublished, official and private, Michael Hughes provides a detailed assessment of how these men approached their role and how influential they were in international diplomacy. The book also looks at the Foreign Secretaries' successes or failures within the British political system, analysing how influential the Foreign Office was under each Foreign Secretary in determining British foreign policy. A fascinating book with a unique focus, "British Foreign Secretaries in an Uncertain World" takes a rigorous look at a key topic in British history.

Table of Contents:
General Editor’s Preface. Acknowledgements 1. Introduction 2. Lord Curzon at the Foreign Office (1919-1924) 3. Ramsey MacDonald at the Foreign Office (1924) 4. Austen Chamberlain at the Foreign Office (1924-1929) 5. Arthur Henderson at the Foreign Office (1929-1931) 6. Sir John Simon at the Foreign Office (1931-1935) 7. Sir Samuel Hoare at the Foreign Office (1935) 8. Anthony Eden at the Foreign Office (1935-1938) 9. Lord Halifax at the Foreign Office (February 1938-September 1939) 10. Conclusion

About the Author :
Liverpool University

Review :
"Hughes (modern history, Liverpool U., UK) profiles the careers of those who served as British foreign secretary between 1919 and 1939, focusing in particular on their activities while serving in that office. His primary interest in presenting these portraits is to analyze the factors that helped to determine the particular modus operandi of each foreign secretary. Among the major questions addressed in each case are the coherence of the secretary’s views about international politics; the relationship between the secretary and other officials in the Foreign Office; the relationship between the Foreign Office and other governmental actors (particularly the Prime Minister’s office); and the influence of Ministers of Parliament, the media, and pressure groups on the secretary." --Reference & Research Book News