The foreign policy of the Chamberlain wartime administration, September 1939-May 1940
This thesis is a detailed analysis of British foreign policy between 3 September 1939 and 10 May 1940. It concentrates on policy towards the Far East, Italy, the Soviet Union, the Balkans, and Scandinavia. These areas represented the biggest challenges to British policy following the outbreak of war with Germany: Japan and Italy, whilst nominal allies of Germany, had opted to stay out of the war, the Soviet Union appeared to be acting in collaboration with Germany but was not at war with Britain, and the Balkans and Scandinavia were the most likely theatres of war if the conflict were to spread. Lack of resources dictated that British efforts be directed towards minimising military activity and containing the conflict, whilst putting economic pressure on Germanyâs ability to fight. Potential allies of Germany had to be dissuaded from entering the war and prevented from helping Germany economically. Potential theatres of war had to be kept neutral unless or until an extension of hostilities would be in Britainâs interests. The contradictions and conflicts of interest created by these policies posed serious problems, and it is the British attempts to solve these problems which form the focus of this study.
Mee, Richard Charles
D731 World War II
The foreign policy of the Chamberlain wartime administration, September 1939-May 1940. This thesis is a detailed analysis of British foreign policy between 3 September 1939 and 10 May 1940. It concentrates on policy towards the Far East, Italy, the Soviet Union, the Balkans, and Scandinavia. These areas represented the biggest challenges to British policy following the outbreak of war with Germany: Japan and Italy, whilst nominal allies of Germany, had opted to stay out of the war, the Soviet Union appeared to be acting in collaboration with Germany but was not at war with Britain, and the Balkans and Scandinavia were the most likely theatres of war if the conflict were to spread. Lack of resources dictated that British efforts be directed towards minimising military activity and containing the conflict, whilst putting economic pressure on Germanyâs ability to fight. Potential allies of Germany had to be dissuaded from entering the war and prevented from helping Germany economically. Potential theatres of war had to be kept neutral unless or until an extension of hostilities would be in Britainâs interests. The contradictions and conflicts of interest created by these policies posed serious problems, and it is the British attempts to solve these problems which form the focus of this study.
foreign_policy wartime administration detailed_analysis british_foreign_policy may concentrate policy_towards far_east italy soviet_union balkans scandinavia area represent big challenge british_policy follow outbreak_war germany japan italy whilst nominal ally germany opt stay war soviet_union appear act collaboration germany war britain balkans scandinavia likely theatre war conflict spread lack resource dictate british effort direct_towards minimise military_activity contain conflict whilst put economic_pressure germany ability fight potential ally germany enter war prevent help germany economically potential theatre war keep neutral unless extension hostility would britain interest contradiction conflict_interest create policy pose serious problem british attempt_solve problem form focus study