History - International Relations 1918-36

I've got a problem..
I am here doing revision (yes, during summer break :argh:

) and I am using the Syllabus as a guide.
When it comes to "Prescribed subject 1: Peacemaking, peacekeeping— international relations 1918-36", one of the requirements are the Conferences - Disarmament, Washington, London and Geneva.
I am pretty confident with Disarmament and Washington, but I do not recall having studied the other two :eek:

I did however study Genoa Conference, but it seems like it's a completely different thing >.<
Can someone please give me a hint on what were the London and Geneva conferences about? I've tried to google it but I get different answers, and as amazing as it sounds, I just can't find them on my books :frown:

Thanks in forehand,
/Laís

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 1

arrowhead

London Naval Conference 1930:

- It was a revision and an extension of the Washington treaty.
- US, Japan, Britain, Italy and France met in London.
- Ratio of capital ships moved from 5:5:3 for the US, Britain and Japan respectively to 10:10:7.
- France and Italy did not take part in this agreement however they did agree to continue to not build new naval armaments for the next five years.
- Agreements on the numbers of submarines, cruisers and destroyers that each country could have where made.
- Submarine warfare rules where made more strict.
- The Treaty was to remain valid until 1936.

London Naval Conference 1935-6

- The major powers met again in 1935 to discuss the treaty of London (1930) as it was to expire the following year.
- Japan wanted equality in terms of ratio of fleets with the US and Britain but this was denied and so Japan walked out of the conference, as did Italy.
- France, Britain and the US did agree on limiting the size and number of their naval armament however this collapsed in 1936 with the Japanese and German rearmament programs and the increasing conflicts arising in the world.
- All in all, the conference was a failure.

Geneva Conference 1932-34

- There was an increased demand to revise the Paris Peace Settlement.
- A number of crises had occurred in the last few years.
- The Great Depression of 1929 had reduced the optimistic outlook and international co-operation.
- The United States wanted the elimination of offensive weapons, however there where disagreements to what weapons where offensive and which were defensive
France was worried about German regaining its strength and so it did not want to reduce its military spending unless it got a guaranteed agreement with the other major powers to support France.
- The other major powers were not interested in a guaranteed agreement and so France refused to reduce its military spending.
- Germany wanted the major powers to either reduce their military spending to Germanys level or Germany should be allowed to increase its military spending to their level.
- This was not accepted by the major powers and so Germany walked out of the conference in 1932.
- Germany rejoined the conference in 1933.
- Adolf Hitler was now chancellor and wanted Germany to have equal treatment to the major powers.
- Once again this was denied and so Germany walked out of the conference.
- This caused Germany to embark on a rearmament scheme.
- France had no choice but to increase its military spending as it did not gain the military guarantee from either the United States nor the UK. It was well aware of Germany's larger population and industrial capacity. Decreasing its military spending was not an option for France.
- Italy was also not interested in reducing its military spending.
- The conference was a failure as no agreement was reached.
- Tension was rising in Europe and countries where starting to consider what was best for themselves.
- Disarmament was not possible at this point as tension started to rise and there was a potential source of conflict.

Source: http://quizlet.com/3066534/peacekeeping-peacemaking-international-relations-1918-1936-flash-cards/

History - International Relations 1918-36

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