In the aftermath of the Great War, multilateral
disarmament was placed at the top of the international agenda by the treaty of Versailles and the Covenant of the League of Nations. This study analyzes the navel, air and land disarmament policies of successive British governments from 1919 to 1934, articulating their dilemma either to fulfil their obligations or to avoid them. Drawing from the vast array of sources such as public record documents, official archives, personal papers, memoirs and autobiographies of key political figures, Carolyn Kitching presents an exhaustive research on the repeated attempts of British goverment officials to evade the obligations assumed in 1919. Daring and controversial, the present study challenges the hitherto accepted view that Britain occupied the high moral ground by drastically reducing its armaments and argues that, during this period, British disarmament policy was reactive and generally failed to provide the leadership that this extremely sensitive time in international politics demanded. The author provides a very balanced and thoroughly examined view of British policy in a global context of postwar international politics. Her clear focus and informed conclusions provide valuable insights which have direct application to the present debate on disarmament and arms control. This work will appeal to both international and military historians and political scientists concerned with foreign policy and the problems of conflict prevention and resolution.
By:
Carolyn J. Kitching
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Volume: No.3
Dimensions:
Height: 229mm,
Width: 152mm,
Spine: 23mm
Weight: 521g
ISBN: 9780415181990
ISBN 10: 0415181992
Series: Routledge Studies in Modern European History
Pages: 232
Publication Date: 18 March 1999
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
Professional & Vocational
,
Primary
,
Further / Higher Education
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Acknowledgements 1. Introduction 2. The Concept and Context of Disarmament, 1919-1934 3. The Human Element 4. The Lloyd George Coalition Government, 1918-1922 5. The Conservative Governments, 1922-1923, and the First Labour Government, 1924 6. The Conservative Government, 1924-1929 7. The Labour Government, 1929-1931 8. The National Government, 1931-1934 9. Conclusion Bibliography
Reviews for Britain and the Problem of International Disarmament: 1919-1934
'This is an important addition to the secondary literature on inter-war disamarmament' - Contemporary British History
