Britain and the Ruhr Crisis

This book provides a comprehensive examination of British policy during the Ruhr occupation crisis of 1922-24. It explores Britain's attitude to reparations and to broader questions of postwar European reconstruction and stability, revealing the dilemmas caused by Britain's underlying strategic and economic weakness after the First World War. It highlights the difficulties Britain encountered when dealing with her European neighbours and provides a valuable insight into the complexity of British foreign policy during this brief but crucial period.

'This meticulous reappraisal of British policy towards the Ruhr occupation [of 1923-4] illuminates the increasingly unpalatable options faced by the government as the Franco-German confrontation intensified. It will surely become the definitive account of the evolution of British policy in this crucial episode which had such far-reaching consequences for the course of inter-war history.' - Ruth Henig, Dean of Arts and Humanities and Senior Lecturer in History, Lancaster University

Autorentext
ELSPETH Y. O'RIORDAN is Lecturer at the Department of Modern History, University of St. Andrews, Fife.

Zusammenfassung
It explores Britain's attitude to reparations and to broader questions of postwar European reconstruction and stability, revealing the dilemmas caused by Britain's underlying strategic and economic weakness after the First World War.

Inhalt
Dedication Acknowledgements List of Abbreviations Introduction The Bonar Law Cabinet and the Origins of the Crisis Benevolent Neutrality, January-April 1923 Tentative Intervention, April-July 1923 British Policy in Chaos, August-September 1923 Britain and the German Collapse, September-December 1923 Establishing the Committees of Experts, September-December 1923 Resolution, January-August 1924 Conclusion Bibliography Index