- AQA A LEVEL HISTORY component 2k, international relations
- 2019 Q3 model essay: How successful was the ‘Spirit of Locarno’ in securing international harmony by 1929.
A level 2019 Q3 : How successful was the ‘Spirit of Locarno’ in securing international harmony by
1929? [25 marks]
The ‘spirit of Locarno’ contributed to a period of relative international harmony by 1929 to a
certain extent. The Dawes Plan in 1924, which aimed to restructure reparations and support the
German economy in a way that would encourage German recovery was the first negotiated
agreement since the war. It ensured Germany could afford to make payments to the allies,
which would then not have to need to take it by force, reducing a source of potential
international conflict, which was highlighted after the Ruhr occupation in 1923. The terms of the
Dawes plan stipulated that Germany should resume control of the Ruhr to regain industrial
resources to facilitate their recovery, French and Belgian troops had to withdraw. German
international standing greatly improved after the implementation of the plan and highlighted the
shift towards a more conciliatory approach to Germany, facilitating more peaceful international
relations and paving the way for future negotiations such as at Locarno. At the Locarno
negotiations, a Treaty of Mutual Guarantee was established, guaranteeing the borders of
Germany, France, and Belgium. It also guaranteed the demilitarization of the Rhineland. France
gave the treaties a warm welcome as fears of isolation following the creation of the Dawes Plan
were alleviated. This reaction marked the new pursuit of international agreements. The Locarno
treaties allowed for Franco-German détente and further agreements between the two powers,
increasing international security. Furthermore, Germany agreed to 4 separate treaties to resolve
any disputes peacefully between France, Belgium, Czech and Poland. Due to the perceived
successes of the Dawes plan and the Locarno negotiations which demonstrated Germany’s
co-operation for international peace, Germany was welcomed into the League of Nations in
1926, after initially being excluded from it at the Versailles conference. The Kellogg-Briand Pact
of 1928 saw 62 nations pledge that war would not be used as an instrument of national policy.
The pact represented a widespread diplomatic effort to prevent future conflicts and was viewed
as an almost unanimous acceptance of peace.
However, not all aspects of the agreements made at the ‘Spirit of Locarno’ were successful. The
Dawes plan, while improving Germany’s international position, isolated France’s position in the
process, making it more vulnerable and worrying French politicians, making them unwilling to
partake in negotiations. The Geneva protocol of 1924 aimed to refine the term ‘act of
aggression’ to solve the issue of slow league responses to international disputes to increase
international stability. However, the Protocol was not ratified, being highly unpopular among the
British government. This highlighted the unpopularity of collective security, and the ability of the
league of nations to arbitrate was called into question. Similarly, the negotiations made at
Locarno, although seemed to be a success, were protested within Germany, where the largest
nationalist party stormed out of the Reichstag. Stresemann continued attempts to amend the
Versailles treaty and secretly developed armaments with the aid of the USSR, who was pushed
to pursue their own measures due to failing to secure Eastern borders at Locarno, displaying
Germany’s lack of willingness to commit to peace negotiations. The agreements made between
Germany and France in theory resolved border disputes, however, they failed to achieve the
guarantee of Germany’s eastern borders and the agreements were difficult to enforce. The
matter of enforcing agreements was displayed again in the Kellogg-Briand pact of 1928.
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