IGCSEHistoryCambridge (CIE)Revision NotesThe 20th Century: International Relations from 1919To What Extent was the League of Nations a Success?What was International Diplomacy Like in the 1920s?

What was International Diplomacy Like in the 1920s? (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE History)

Revision Note

Zoe Wade

The Washington Naval Agreement, 1922

What is International Diplomacy?

  • International diplomacy is how countries communicate and work together

    • This takes the form of negotiating alliances, treaties and agreements

  • When a country has a friendly foreign policy, international diplomacy is good

  • When a country has an aggressive foreign policy, they do not want to make compromises, which affects diplomacy

  • During the 1920s, international diplomacy was good

  • However, countries made agreements outside of the League’s influence. This was because:

    • Important nations like the USA, the USSR and Germany were not members

    • The League was slow at making decisions

The Washington Naval Agreement, 1922

Aims

Countries

Terms

Significance

  • Limit Japanese imperialism

  • Ease tensions in the Asia Pacific region

  • Work towards naval disarmament

The USA,

Britain,

Italy and Japan

An additional agreement made with Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and China

  • Restrictions on the building of battleships, battlecruisers and aircraft carriers

  • Britain and the USA limited to ships weighing up to 533,000 tonnes

  • Japan limited to ships weighing up to 320,000 tonnes

  • The first treaty to encourage disarmament

  • Britain, France, Japan and Italy attended as individual countries rather than League representatives

  • Did not restrict the number of ships. This encouraged the development of lighter warships

The Rapallo Treaty, 1922

Aims

Countries

Terms

Significance

  • Rebuild both countries' reputations after the First World War

  • Resolve the USSR’s issues with the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1917)

Germany and the USSR

  • End of the USSR’s reparations to Germany

  • Trading agreements between the two countries

  • The USSR would allow German soldiers to train secretly. The USSR also allowed German  rearmament factories

  • Friendly diplomatic relations established

  • Angered the Allies due to Germany making alliances without permission

  • The treaty was conducted secretly, undermining the League of Nations

The Locarno Treaty, 1925

Aims

Countries

Terms

Significance

  • Improve the international reputation of Germany

  • To avoid conflict with France. Their relationship had worsened after the French invasion of the Ruhr in 1923

Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Belgium

  • France and Germany promised to keep peace with each other

  • Germany accepted its western borders as stated in the 1919 Treaty of Versailles

  • All members promised to keep the Rhineland demilitarised

  • To explore the possibility of admitting Germany into the League of Nations

  • The acceptance of the Treaty of Versailles infuriated the extremist parties in Germany

  • Germany entered into the treaty as an equal to the Allies. It was not a diktat

  • In September 1926, Germany became a member of the League. Additional countries in the League strengthened it as an organisation

A political cartoon called ‘Treaty of Locarno’ by David Low, 5th September 1925. It shows French Foreign Minister, Aristide Briand, with a boxing glove behind his back
A political cartoon called ‘Treaty of Locarno’ by David Low, 5th September 1925. It shows French Foreign Minister, Aristide Briand, with a boxing glove behind his back

Examiner Tip

Paper Two presents you with unseen sources and asks you a series of source analysis questions. Before the exam, study as many written and visual sources as you can on the specified core content topic. It may result in you knowing one of the sources that appears in the paper. David Low was born in New Zealand but worked in the UK. He created many political cartoons for The Star (1919 - 1927) and the Evening Standard (1927-1950). He is best known for his cartoons about Hitler and Appeasement, which are covered in Hitler’s Foreign Policy.

The Dawes Plan, 1925

Aims

Countries

Terms

Significance

  • Hyperinflation in 1923 led the Allies to consider reducing Germany’s reparation bill

  • Improve German industry and trading

Germany and the USA

Created by Charles G. Dawes, an American banker

  • The temporary reduction of reparations to £50 million a year

  • A guarantee of US bank loans for German industry

  • Reparations became more manageable and trust between the Allies and Germany improved

  • Stresemann called off the passive resistance in the Ruhr and France agreed to leave

  • The US gave $25 billion to German industry from 1924 to 1930

  • Germany’s industrial output increased by 50% between 1923 and 1928

  • Generally accepted in Germany but infuriated the extremist parties

Diagram of the Dawes Plan

A diagram illustrating how the Dawes Plan economically connected Britain, France and Germany to the USA
A diagram illustrating how the Dawes Plan economically connected Britain, France and Germany to the USA

  • The Dawes Plan was risky

    • Britain, France and Germany were gambling their economies on the USA’s prosperity

    • In 1929, Stresemann stated that Germany was “dancing on a volcano”. If the USA recalled the loans or experienced a depression, the ‘volcano’ would erupt and destroy the stability of Weimar Germany

The Young Plan, 1929

Aims

Countries

Terms

Significance

  • Provide further assistance to allow Germany to pay back its reparations

Germany and the USA

Created by Owen Young, an American banker

  • Reduction of the total reparations bill from £6.6 billion to £2 billion

  • The Allies states that reparations had to be fully repaid by 1988

  • The German government reduced taxes. Citizens could spend more, boosting German industry and creating more jobs

  • Improved relations between Germany and the Allies

  • France decided to leave the Rhineland in 1930

  • Outraged Germany's extremist parties. Hitler stated that the extension of the reparations deadline was “passing on the penalty to the unborn”

How Did International Diplomacy Impact the League of Nations?

  • The League encouraged other countries to pursue better international relations

    • The number of treaties agreed upon shows a positive political environment in the 1920s

  • Even in the 1920s, League members were bypassing the Assembly and Council

    • The League of Nations discussed issues but rarely developed solutions

  • League members entered the above treaties independently, not as representatives of the League

    • Wilson intended the League to lead the way in international agreements. Instead, it gained a reputation of words over actions

    • During the 1920s, countries began to ignore the League and pursue their own foreign policies

Worked Example

‘It was the behaviour of member states, not the structure of the League, that led to its failure.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer

10 marks

Partial answer:

I think the behaviour of member states was the main reason why the League failed (1). This is because, from the beginning of the League in 1920, its members were bypassing it (1). An example of this is the Washington Naval Agreement in 1922. The USA, Britain, Italy and Japan entered an agreement to restrict the building of battleships and ease naval competition (1). The Washington Naval Agreement demonstrates a failure in the League of Nations because Britain, France, Japan and Italy were the League’s permanent members yet did not attend as League representatives. This shows that the member states were more worried about achieving their interests rather than embracing co-operation through the League’s Assembly. This mindset would make the League fail regardless of its structure (1).

Examiner Tip

In Paper One, a ten-mark question requires you to consider:

  • Providing a balanced argument. You should have a minimum of three explanations (two on one side; one on the other)

  • The strength of both sides of the argument. The member states had their own ambitions, for example, Britain wanted to use the League to expand its empire. However, the previous revision note discussed the issues with the League’s structure. For example, the Assembly only met once a year so decision-making could be slow. Therefore, there are multiple reasons why the League of Nations failed.

  • Concluding your thoughts with a reflection on the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement. Use words like 'partially' or 'fully' to explain this.

Last updated:

You've read 0 of your 10 free revision notes

Unlock more, it's free!

Join the 100,000+ Students that ❤️ Save My Exams

the (exam) results speak for themselves:

    Next topic

    Did this page help you?

    Zoe Wade

    Author: Zoe Wade

    Expertise: History

    Zoe has worked in education for 10 years as a teaching assistant and a teacher. This has given her an in-depth perspective on how to support all learners to achieve to the best of their ability. She has been the Lead of Key Stage 4 History, showing her expertise in the Edexcel GCSE syllabus and how best to revise. Ever since she was a child, Zoe has been passionate about history. She believes now, more than ever, the study of history is vital to explaining the ever-changing world around us. Zoe’s focus is to create accessible content that breaks down key historical concepts and themes to achieve GCSE success.

    Bridgette Barrett

    Author: Bridgette Barrett

    Expertise: Geography Lead

    After graduating with a degree in Geography, Bridgette completed a PGCE over 25 years ago. She later gained an MA Learning, Technology and Education from the University of Nottingham focussing on online learning. At a time when the study of geography has never been more important, Bridgette is passionate about creating content which supports students in achieving their potential in geography and builds their confidence.