Essay 4.

• Essay Question - The Great depression caused the collapse of collective security. To what extent do you agree with this statement?
• • N.D Palmer, H.C Perkins → collapse of collective security on the LoN/its shortcomings
• • Great Depression gave origin to events sparking aggression, accelerating demise
• A.J.P Taylor → "Great Depression put wind in Hitler's sails".
• • Hitler's rise initiated collapse = Germany out of LoN. (Nov 1933, 9 months after chancellor) 
  • = Increasing acceptance of extremist ideals in act of pure desperation, in time of economic struggles.
• • Germany's departure made renunciation clear, highlighting weakness
  • Setting stage -  Italy 1937 (avoid sanctions - Abyssinia) 
• • Collective security = threatened by rejection of humiliating terms of ToV. 
• • Hitler initiated rapid militarisation 1935 = new air force, reinstitution of conscription, 500k army
  • Posed threat - no action to stop him early on.
  • Intentions still ambiguous - action seemed unreasonable
• • Failure to act against in early leadership = collapse
  • "only military force could undo that which Germany had already accomplished".
• • LoN’ status as a 'peace-making' rendered it useless - expansion
  • Impossible = lack of army
• • Hesitance to act against justified, "Non-Aggression Pact" Poland 1934 gave peaceful impression
• • Depression spiked nations' sense of self-interest, rise to fascism, aggressive foreign policies.
• • 1934, "Italy suffering, victorious war = divert attention from internal troubles” - Abyssinia 1935.
  • Improve morale, avenged Italian defeat Adowa 1896.
• • Collective security proved to be ineffective, economic sanctions applied did not stop.
  • Br/Fr reluctant to take a stand against Mussolini = hope Italy (ally)
  • 'Collective security' was of secondary importance.
  • A.J.P Taylor → “League as a "sham"
• • Fascism expansionist ideals as a result caused lack of faith in collective security
• • Need to redirect attention from domestic = result of Great Depression, byproducts being collapse of collective security.
• • Effect of Great Depression = focus on domestic/economic situations
• • Collapsing economy, most countries = not afford to spend resources on international affairs.
  • Br’s reluctance to take action - Manchurian incident 1931 = protect interest.
• • Br had interests in Manchuria, due to economic struggles, war against Japan for sake = not an option.
• Prioritise investments over peace.
• • Manchurian incident "bulk of Br investments were in southern China."
  • Explains why Br decided against action - little to protect.
  • Japanese vs Chinese Shanghai 1932, Br acted quickly
  • Br = no interest in collective security as interests were at stake.
• • Br cannot entirely be blamed on financial factors.
  • 1931, Br Foreign Secretary, John Simon, defended Japanese actions, claiming that Japan had a right to Manchuria. (no interference with what was Japan's rightful territory. 
  • Great Depression = urgent need to prioritise domestic economic affairs = shifting from international peace/undermining collective security.