Alternative to Appeasement: Sir Robert Vansittart and Alliance Diplomacy, 1934-1937The years from 1934 to 1937 were a time during which the British Empire was confronted with the emergence of the triple threat of Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, and Fascist Italy. The goal of British policy was easily defined: the protection and promotion of Britain's vast interests. While Neville Chamberlain and Sir Robert Vansittart agreed on the goal, they disagreed on the means to achieve it. Their disagreement stemmed partly from their different understandings of the nature of the Third Reich; Vansittart understood better than Chamberlain the implications of Hitler's Weltanschauung. But their different strategies also reflected the fact that Chamberlain did not share Vansittart's belief in the necessity of pursuing alliance diplomacy to protect the world-wide security and interests of the British Empire. While the prime minister realized that Britain's problems were global in scope, he thought Britain could solve each problem on a bilateral basis. In other words, Britain should approach Germany, Japan, and Italy directly to settle outstanding disputes. Vansittart did not believe, however, that Britain's problems could be solved on a bilateral basis, for the interdependence of events in every region of the globe militated against bilateral solutions. |
Contents
Vansittarts Strategic Vision and the DRC | 25 |
Death of Disarmament and the Stresa | 57 |
The Abyssinian Crisis and | 91 |
Copyright | |
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Alternative to Appeasement: Sir Robert Vansittart and Alliance Diplomacy ... Michael Roi Limited preview - 1997 |
Alternative to Appeasement: Sir Robert Vansittart and Alliance Diplomacy ... Michael Roi No preview available - 1997 |
Common terms and phrases
Abyssinia Abyssinian crisis alliance diplomacy Anglo-French Anthony Anthony Eden April Archibald Montgomery-Massingberd argued army Austria balance of power Baldwin Berlin Britain British foreign policy British interests British policy British Rearmament Cabinet Cadogan Cambridge University Chatfield Churchill College Churchill College Archives colleagues Collier debate December defense deterrent diary diplomatic DRC report DRC's East Eastern economic Eric Phipps Europe European February force Foreign Office foreign secretary France and Italy French German rearmament Germanophobic Germany's global Hankey Hitler Hoare Hoare-Laval Plan Italian Italy Italy's January Japan July June Leeper London Lord Vansittart MacDonald Malcolm Christie March McKercher Mediterranean Mist Procession Mussolini naval Nazi Germany Neville Chamberlain November October opinion Papers Churchill College Paris permanent undersecretary prime minister proposals Ralph Wigram rapprochement Sargent minute Second World Simon Sir Robert Vansittart Soviet Union strategy Stresa front University Press Vansittart memorandum Vansittart minute views Wigram minute
References to this book
In the House of the Hangman: The Agonies of German Defeat, 1943-1949 Jeffrey K. Olick Limited preview - 2005 |
Searching for Security in a New Europe: The Diplomatic Career of Sir George ... Gerald J. Protheroe No preview available - 2004 |