The Locarno Treaties signed, December 1925
How effectively did the Locarno Treaties reconcile Europe?
Why were the Locarno Treaties signed? -reasons:
- France’s insecurity:
• The Dawes Plan came with no accompaniment of military security for the French- as
the German economy strengthened they could put more money into their army
• France refused to evacuate the Cologne zone which was due in January 1925 on the
grounds that Germany had not yet carried out the military clauses of the treaty. The
treaties therefore needed to convince France of Germany’s peaceful intentions and
secure the evacuation of Cologne
• French Prime Minister, Briand convinced Stresemann and Chamberlain to widen the
international guarantee to cover Belgian- German frontier.
• Briand recognised the need for an international framework- support of Britain
• Had to balance Germany’s desire for revisions to the Treaty of Versailles with French
demands for security
• French and Belgian troops had to leave the Ruhr by August 1925, the Allied troops
continued to occupy the Rhineland cities including Cologne
• Hopes of Rhenish separatism
- A more conciliatory approach to Germany:
• Include Germany in international decision making and give them more status
• Under the Dawes Plan they were classed as equals
• Working with Germany meant greater cooperation and made disarmament more
achievable
• Stresemann wanted to refer disputes with Poland and Czechoslovakia to arbitration,
although he refused the recognise their frontiers with Germany as permanent
• Dawes Plan had eased the pressure of reparations temporarily
- Efforts and actions of peacemakers:
• Disarmament seemed more achievable- firm public support for it in many European
countries and America
• Briand, Stresemann and Chamberlain were given Noble Peace Prizes for their
peacemaking efforts
How effectively did the Locarno Treaties reconcile Europe?
Why were the Locarno Treaties signed? -reasons:
- France’s insecurity:
• The Dawes Plan came with no accompaniment of military security for the French- as
the German economy strengthened they could put more money into their army
• France refused to evacuate the Cologne zone which was due in January 1925 on the
grounds that Germany had not yet carried out the military clauses of the treaty. The
treaties therefore needed to convince France of Germany’s peaceful intentions and
secure the evacuation of Cologne
• French Prime Minister, Briand convinced Stresemann and Chamberlain to widen the
international guarantee to cover Belgian- German frontier.
• Briand recognised the need for an international framework- support of Britain
• Had to balance Germany’s desire for revisions to the Treaty of Versailles with French
demands for security
• French and Belgian troops had to leave the Ruhr by August 1925, the Allied troops
continued to occupy the Rhineland cities including Cologne
• Hopes of Rhenish separatism
- A more conciliatory approach to Germany:
• Include Germany in international decision making and give them more status
• Under the Dawes Plan they were classed as equals
• Working with Germany meant greater cooperation and made disarmament more
achievable
• Stresemann wanted to refer disputes with Poland and Czechoslovakia to arbitration,
although he refused the recognise their frontiers with Germany as permanent
• Dawes Plan had eased the pressure of reparations temporarily
- Efforts and actions of peacemakers:
• Disarmament seemed more achievable- firm public support for it in many European
countries and America
• Briand, Stresemann and Chamberlain were given Noble Peace Prizes for their
peacemaking efforts
