The London Naval conferenceThe London Naval TreatyThe Geneva Conference

• Vincent and Bri-I-G w Vincent & Bridget

The London Naval Conference

1930

The five major naval powers gathered to revise the terms of the agreement made in Washington (1922).

They wanted to extend the agreement

Avoid an arms-race

The Great Depression

Ratio of capital ships from 5:5:3 to 10:10:7 (UK, USA, Japan)

Submarines could not sink ships until the crew was brought to safety

France and Italy agreed to not build capital ships for the following 5 years

Agreements of the size and amount of submarines, cruisers and destroyers were made

The treaty was to stay in effect until 1936

The London Naval Treaty

1935 - 1936

The 5 major naval powers met again to renegotiate and extend the terms of the London naval conference of 1930

Japan and Italy walked out

UK, France and USA agreed on cruiser tonnage

Japanese and Germans introduced rearmament programs

The world was instable due to numerous crises and conflicts

Agreements limiting the amount and size of the warships failed

Conference was a complete failure

Geneva Disarmament Conference

1932 - 1934

Disarmament was part of Wilson’s 14 points

There was public support for disarmament

to create a more peaceful world

after the reasonably peaceful 1920’s, the people didn’t believe another war was very likely

the cost of arms would have been great to the nations who were still recovering from the first world war

by reducing the chance of another arms race, they hoped to reduce the chances of another war occurring

the league of nations

Why the Geneva Conference was unsuccessful.

Increasing unpopularity of the terms of the treaty

The Depression

Nations still feared their security

Problems distinguishing between offensive and defensive weapons

There was no one that could make sure all nations followed the terms set at the conference

Other treaties (Rapallo etc.)

Germany tried to expose the hypocrisy of the Allies, they withdrew in 1932 but joined the conference again in 1933 (Hitler)

Mussolini wasn’t in favor of disarmament (attempt to make an all European pact)