Weimar‘s foreign policy, 1922-29

Lecture 10

10 April 2012

HIST2133.The Weimar Republic through Documents,1918-1933

Genoa Conference (1922)USA & UK invited G + SU to discuss reparations & EU economic

problems:

• F rejected participation to avoid discussing reparations

• Separate Treaty of Rapallo between G + SU (‘the outsiders’): No mutual claims from wartime + new diplomatic relations

= Strategic success of G but worsening relations with West

= Strong mistrust by F & GB vs. ‘Ghost of Rapallo’

Improving foreign relations

• Dawes Plan & London Conference (1924)

• Acceptance by French PM Herriot → evacuation of Ruhr (1925)

• Signing of Locarno treaties (1925)

Stresemann’s policy

• Realistic assessment of G position:

• Accepted war defeat + dependence on Allies• Rejected nationalism & confrontation as harmful• Strived to convince Allies of G’s will for peace &

for cooperation & for mutual understanding• Tried to have Versailles Treaty revised

= Aimed at renewed big-power position for G

Stresemann’s security policy

• Aimed at peaceful understanding with F to end Ruhr occupation + to have Versailles Treaty revised

• His secret notes to F + GB to achieve guarantee treaties on basis of given territorial situation in West

• F generally positive but demanded guarantee treaty also in East (PL) →

Locarno Conference (1925) German-Allied Security Conference

• Treaty of Mutual Guarantee: Inviolability of G’s western borders (G, F, B, GB, I)

→ G accepted De-militarisation of Rhineland + gave up permanently Alsace-Lorraine (F) & Eupen-Malmedy (B)

• Treaties of Arbitration (G with B, F, PL, CZ) → G vs. PL renounced border changes by force but

no ‘Eastern Locarno’

Locarno Treaties: ResultsMost important positive event in foreign politic for

Europe since war (Oct 1925):

→ End of G moral & political isolation + return as leading European power with enhanced foreign policy options

→ G as permanent member of League of Nations (Sep 1926)

→ Positive repercussions for G expected too quickly but only successively

Treaty with Soviet Union

• Strong mistrust in SU on G’s turn to West (Locarno) > Stresemann’s parallel talks > Treaty of Berlin (Apr 1926)

= Mutual neutrality in case of outside & non-provoked attack on SU or G

= Mutual non-participation in economic & financial boycotts vs. SU or G

Relations with Poland

• No ‘Eastern Locarno’ (1925): No guarantee of G-PL borders by any power

• Treaty of Berlin further pressured on PL• Stresemann’s hoped for PL’s economic &

financial collapse but PL saved by F• No concessions by PL vs. G: Valuable

access to Baltic + nationalist sentiments

= Eastern border still open wound for G

Relations with France

• ‘Spirit of Locarno’ as good start

• Hopeful meeting of Stresemann & Briand to solve economic problems in mutual interest but rejected in both countries (Sep 1926)

• Briand-Kellogg Pact to outlaw aggressive wars with ca. 60 signatories as major success of Stresemann (1928)

• Minor developments & general stagnation after 1928

Stresemann’s merits

6 years of foreign politics under difficult conditions:

• Combined peace & revision policies• Paved way for peaceful alteration of post-war order +

brought G out of isolation• Bettered considerably relations of G with former enemies• Achieved UK + US support

• Realistic attitude & ready to accept compromises

= Improved position of G in international politics