| dc.description.abstract | Despite Britain's acquiescence in the Versailles Treaty and the Locarno arrangement regarding the demilitarized zone, the British government by 1935 decided that the zone did not constitute a vital British interest. Distracted by the Italo-Abyssinian affair and especially the Hoare-Laval fiasco, British leaders tended to ignore reports that the Germans were planning some revision of the zone's status. When the German government, in early 1936, voiced strong opposition to the French government's plans for ratifying the Franco-Soviet Pact, the British decided to forestall an impending crisis by bringing about a "peaceful disappearance" of the zone. To that end, they planned to renew an offer made to Germany for a Western air pact, an arrangement which would have emitted any reference to the zone. For their negotiations to be successful, however, the British had to secure the cooperation of the interim French government. Hope of success was lessened when the French Chamber of Deputies ratified the Franco-Soviet Pact on February 27, 1936. The Gentian reaction was mild enough to encourage the British who offered to reopen discussions with Germany on an air pact. Unfortunately they were too late. On March 7 Hitler stunned the world by sending German troops to reoccupy the Rhineland but at the same time offered to sign a new treaty. The French, unable to secure promises of British military assistance, decided to appeal to the Council of the league of Nations rather than act alone. Since British opinion generally opposed employment of coercive measures against the Germans, British leaders insisted that a negotiated settlement of the Rhineland problem must be worked out. When the Locarno representatives net in Paris on March 10, the French and Belgians demanded German evacuation from the zone. Otherwise they would call on the Locarno guarantors, Britain and Italy, to fulfill their treaty obligations. Fearful that such measures would lead to an immediate war, the British delegates succeeded in getting the discussions transferred to the calmer atmosphere of London. By March 19 the delegates of the four Locarno powers meeting at London finally initialed a set of proposals which represented a hasty compromise between France and Britain. Among other things, the French agreed to drop their demand for German withdrawal from the zone if the British would give them a written guarantee to defend France and Belgium against an unprovoked attack and also promise to begin general staff conversations. Hitler rejected the Locarno proposals; but encouraged by the British, he offered counterproposals. In turn, the French proposed their own "peace plan" but agreed that the British should seek clarification of Hitler's latest offers. Hitler refused to reply to a British questionnaire or to attend any Locarno conferences. Further attempts at negotiation proved futile, and the British found themselves committed to France in what was virtually an Anglo-French alliance. | |
