Weimar‘s foreign policy, 1922-29 Lecture 10 10 April 2012 HIST2133. The Weimar Republic through...
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Transcript of Weimar‘s foreign policy, 1922-29 Lecture 10 10 April 2012 HIST2133. The Weimar Republic through...
Weimar‘s foreign policy, 1922-29
Lecture 10
10 April 2012
HIST2133.The Weimar Republic through Documents,1918-1933
Genoa Conference (1922)USA & UK invited G + SU to discuss reparations & EU economic
problems:
• F rejected participation to avoid discussing reparations
• Separate Treaty of Rapallo between G + SU (‘the outsiders’): No mutual claims from wartime + new diplomatic relations
= Strategic success of G but worsening relations with West
= Strong mistrust by F & GB vs. ‘Ghost of Rapallo’
Improving foreign relations
• Dawes Plan & London Conference (1924)
• Acceptance by French PM Herriot → evacuation of Ruhr (1925)
• Signing of Locarno treaties (1925)
Stresemann’s policy
• Realistic assessment of G position:
• Accepted war defeat + dependence on Allies• Rejected nationalism & confrontation as harmful• Strived to convince Allies of G’s will for peace &
for cooperation & for mutual understanding• Tried to have Versailles Treaty revised
= Aimed at renewed big-power position for G
Stresemann’s security policy
• Aimed at peaceful understanding with F to end Ruhr occupation + to have Versailles Treaty revised
• His secret notes to F + GB to achieve guarantee treaties on basis of given territorial situation in West
• F generally positive but demanded guarantee treaty also in East (PL) →
Locarno Conference (1925) German-Allied Security Conference
• Treaty of Mutual Guarantee: Inviolability of G’s western borders (G, F, B, GB, I)
→ G accepted De-militarisation of Rhineland + gave up permanently Alsace-Lorraine (F) & Eupen-Malmedy (B)
• Treaties of Arbitration (G with B, F, PL, CZ) → G vs. PL renounced border changes by force but
no ‘Eastern Locarno’
Locarno Treaties: ResultsMost important positive event in foreign politic for
Europe since war (Oct 1925):
→ End of G moral & political isolation + return as leading European power with enhanced foreign policy options
→ G as permanent member of League of Nations (Sep 1926)
→ Positive repercussions for G expected too quickly but only successively
Treaty with Soviet Union
• Strong mistrust in SU on G’s turn to West (Locarno) > Stresemann’s parallel talks > Treaty of Berlin (Apr 1926)
= Mutual neutrality in case of outside & non-provoked attack on SU or G
= Mutual non-participation in economic & financial boycotts vs. SU or G
Relations with Poland
• No ‘Eastern Locarno’ (1925): No guarantee of G-PL borders by any power
• Treaty of Berlin further pressured on PL• Stresemann’s hoped for PL’s economic &
financial collapse but PL saved by F• No concessions by PL vs. G: Valuable
access to Baltic + nationalist sentiments
= Eastern border still open wound for G
Relations with France
• ‘Spirit of Locarno’ as good start
• Hopeful meeting of Stresemann & Briand to solve economic problems in mutual interest but rejected in both countries (Sep 1926)
• Briand-Kellogg Pact to outlaw aggressive wars with ca. 60 signatories as major success of Stresemann (1928)
• Minor developments & general stagnation after 1928
Stresemann’s merits
6 years of foreign politics under difficult conditions:
• Combined peace & revision policies• Paved way for peaceful alteration of post-war order +
brought G out of isolation• Bettered considerably relations of G with former enemies• Achieved UK + US support
• Realistic attitude & ready to accept compromises
= Improved position of G in international politics