Synopses & Reviews
It has long been argued that Baldwin's second government, especially the Foreign Office led by Austen Chamberlain, was to blame for the deterioration in Anglo-American relations in 1927-9. This book argues that Austen Chamberlain, by suggesting a reduction in maritime belligerent rights, consistently worked for an improvement in relations and found the means for a settlement in 1929, though Labour's success in the general election caused the credit to go to others and Chamberlain's reputation remained tarnished. While the earlier view was based mainly on the memoirs of contemporary critics, Dr McKercher bases his analysis on a wide range of public and private archival material.
Synopsis
A reassessment of Austen Chamberlain's conduct of Anglo-American relations.
Synopsis
Shows how, against much opposition, Austin Chamberlain, head of the Foreign office, persuaded the Baldwin government to consider reducing British maritime belligerent rights, just as the Americans moved to negotiate a new Anglo-American arbitration treaty, and proposed a multilateral pact to renounce war.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements; List of abbreviations; 1. The second Baldwin government and the United States, November 1924-June 1929; 2. Foreign office perception of republican foreign policy, November 1924-May 1927; 3. The onset of naval deadlock, June-August 1927; 4. Belligerent versus neutral rights, August-December 1927; 5. The pact to renounce war, January-July 1928; 6. Arbitration, belligerent rights, and disarmament, January-July 1928; 7. The crisis in Anglo-American relations, August-November 1928; 8. The American question resolved, November 1928-June 1929; Notes; Bibliography; Index.