WHY DID BRITAIN FOLLOW A POLICY OF APPEASEMENT?

Impact of First World War • Hardly a family had escaped a loss or injury of a loved one • Had been fought as a moral crusade a war for democracy and a “war to end all wars” • Britain’s policy in the 1920’s and 30’s was a continuation of this mood

Membership of the League of Nations • A policy of conciliation, negotiation, and concession seemed to be consistent with membership.

• Collective security would deter aggressors • Appeasement was a way of reinforcing the League • When league was discredited appeasement become the alternative to the League

The fear of financial cost of a war • A strong economy was essential for a strong defence • Military people worried that the nation could not rearm • Politicians argued the Br. Could not afford to rearm

The political cost • Oxford University Debate in Feb. 1933 “This House will in no circumstance fight for King and Country” • East- Fulham by-election Oct. 1933 • So called Peace Ballot of 1934/5 millions of pupil signed a petition stressing the use of non-violent methods to solve disputes

Political Cost • All of these would appear to demonstrate strong anti-war feelings and possible (certain?) defeat facing any government trying to introduce re-armament

Feelings over the Treaty of Versailles • Policy of appeasement also arose out of feelings of guilt • The reparations and the punitive treatment of Germany • The widespread belief that much of the territorial clauses were unjust • Br. Was ready to admit German grievances and was prepared to something about them

Stronger Germany necessarily a bad thing?

• Might bring about political and economical stability to Central Europe • A valuable trading partner and in the 1930’s Br. Needed this • A prosperous and contented Germany less likely to veer towards political extremism • Would also ,therefore, be a defence against Communist Russia, which seemed more of a threat than a Nazi Germany

Similarly in the Far East • Japan could contain Russian expansion • Invasion of Manchuria was reprehensible BUT, the Chinese were weak, decadent, corrupt,and too internally divided to be worth supporting

Britain not strong enough?

• No real alternative since the country was not strong enough to face dictators alone and had no reliable allies • Overextended navy • Cuts in all the armed forces • Believed that Germany and Italy were too strong and modern

The Bomber would always get through • Governmental figures suggested huge civilian casualties would result • Britain ill-prepared for air defences • RAF had until later no effective fighters or longer range bombers • Shelters, radar etc still to be developed • Images of Guernica