In the aftermath of the Great War, multilateral disarmament was placed at the top of the international agenda by the treaty of Versailles and the Covenant of the League of Nations. This study analyzes the navel, air and land disarmament policies of successive British governments from 1919 to 1934, articulating their dilemma either to fulfil their obligations or to avoid them. Drawing from the vast array of sources such as public record documents, official archives, personal papers, memoirs and autobiographies of key political figures, Carolyn Kitching presents an exhaustive research on the repeated attempts of British government officials to evade the obligations assumed in 1919.
Daring and controversial, the present study challenges the hitherto accepted view that Britain occupied the high moral ground by drastically reducing its armaments and argues that, during this period, British disarmament policy was reactive and generally failed to provide the leadership that this extremely sensitive time in international politics demanded. The author provides a very balanced and thoroughly examined view of British policy in a global context of postwar international politics. Her clear focus and informed conclusions provide valuable insights which have direct application to the present debate on disarmament and arms control.
This work will appeal to both international and military historians and political scientists concerned with foreign policy and the problems of conflict prevention and resolution.