ABOUT THE BOOK

Twentieth century history witnesses many political upheavals in the international arena. History of the inter-war period emerges as an academic discipline and almost becomes an interdisciplinary domain similar to global studies. Students of history delve deep into the trajectories of historical development taking place after the First World War. Hence, the International relations in the inter-war period becomes a fascinating intellectual discourse which invites academicians to incorporate all such issues in their undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Their importance was felt across the years of the century and is still felt relevant.

This book has been a noble attempt to discuss all such important international happenings in a limited framework following the onset of the First World War until the closure of the second one. It is in the form of a textbook and every effort has been made to maintain the standard. The language followed is precise and self-convincing. I believe the book in its present shape benefit the learners.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Having First Class Academic Career throughout, Dr. Prasanta Kumar Nayak (b.1967) received M.A., M. Phil and Ph. D. degrees from Utkal University, Bhubaneswar and joined the Department of Higher Education, Government of Arunachal Pradesh as Lecturer in History in July 1992. At present he is serving as Associate Professor in the Department of History at Indira Gandhi Government College, Tezu, Arunachal Pradesh.

Dr. Nayak has published scores of research articles in various journals of repute including EPW; self-authored Higher Education in Arunachal Pradesh (2002), History of Modern Political Movements (2003) published by Akansha Publishing House, New Delhi and Periodisation of History: Arunachal Pradesh (2017) by Kalpaz Publications, New Delhi; completed Research Projects sponsored by UGC and ICHR; and prepared Course Materials for the Distant Learners of University of Mumbai, Rajiv Gandhi University, Itanagar and Utkal University, Bhubaneswar. His present academic interests include the Developmental History of Arunachal Pradesh and the Economic History of Modern Odisha. His recent feat of accomplishment has been the Outstanding Teacher’s Award received from the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh in 2016.

CONTENTS

Preface . 9

1. First World War and Aftermaths .11
• Objective • Introduction • First World War • Causes of the War (Origin) • Course of World War I (191418) • War on Two Fronts • USA Joining the War • Italy and the Allies • Victory of the Allies • Nature of World War I • Results of the War • Paris Peace Conference • The Armistice • Composition of the Conference • Initial Problems of the Conference • Wilson’s Fourteen Points (8 January 1918) • Criticism • League of Nations • Origin • The League Covenant • Aims and Objectives of the League • Membership • Organisation of the League • The Assembly • The Council • The Secretariat • The Permanent Court of International Justice • The International Labour Organisation (ILO) • Achievements of the League • Political Achievements • Dispute over Aaland Islands • Dispute over Eupen and Malmedy, 192021 • Dispute over Upper Silesia, 1921 • Dispute over Vilna, 1920 • Dispute over Corfu, 1923 • Greco-Bulgarian Dispute, 1925 • The Chaco War, 1928 • Manchurian Dispute, 1931 • Italian Attack on Ethiopia, 193436 • German Aggression and the League, 193539 • Social Achievements • Economic Achievements • Failure of the League of Nations • Search for Security • French Quest for Security • The System of Guarantees and Alliances • French Alliances • The Little Entente • The Italian Alliances • The Middle East and the Saadabad Pact • The Scandinavian Block • The Baltic Pact • Briand’s Project of European Union • The Pact of Rome • London Agreements • The Geneva Protocol, 1924 • Merits • Washington Conference, 192122 • Locarno Pact, 1925 • Franco-German and German-Belgium Treaty of Arbitration • Arbitration Treaties between Germany and Poland and Germany and Czechoslovakia • Arbitration Conventions between Germany and Belgium and Germany and France • Treaties of Guarantee between France and Poland, and France and Czechoslovakia • Criticism • KelloggBriand Pact, 1928 • Shortcomings of the Pact • Importance of the Pact • Let Us Sum Up • Key Words • Select References.

2. World between Two World Wars Part – I . 69
• Objective • Introduction • Crisis in Capitalism • Great Depression • Causes of the Depression • Rise of Communism and Cancellation of Debts • Impact  on Germany • Impact on England • Impact on the USA • Impact on India • General Impact • Led to Abandonment of Gold Standard • Led to Abandonment  of Policy of Free Trade • Led to Rise of Military Nationalism • Rise of Fascism in Italy • Rise of Nazism in Germany • Political Instability in France • Promoted  Socialistic Ideas • Policy of Appeasement • Paralysed the League of Nations • Gave Serious Setback to Democracy • New Deal • Background • Principles  of New Deal • Implementation of the Principles • Results • Criticism • The Making of the Russian Revolution • Establishment of Socialist State in Russia  • Its Economic and Political Aspects • Economic Aspects • Political Aspects • Imperialism • Leninist TheoryThe Vanguard Party • Democratic Centralism  • Revolution • Dictatorship of the Proletariat • National Selfdetermination • Lenin vs. Stalin • Trotskyism vs. Stalinism • The Oppositionists • New  Economic Policy (NEP) (192129) • The Death of Lenin and the Fate of the NEP • Response and Reaction in the West of the Russian Revolution  • Totalitarianism in the InterWar Period • Fascism in Italy (Rise of Benito Mussolini) • March on Rome • Main Concepts of Fascism • Domestic Policy  • Mussolini’s Economic Policy • Nazism in Germany (Rise of Hitler) • Nazism as a Concept • Application of Nazism • Modernisation of Turkey • Domestic  Policy of Mustafa Kemal Pasha • Foreign Policy of Kemal Pasha • Let Us Sum Up • Key Words • Select References. 

3. World Between Two World WarsPartII . 139
• Objectives • Introduction • Rise of Nationalism in Indo–China • Historical   Background • Vietnam • Kampuchea • Laos • Factors Contributing to the Rise   of Nationalism • System of French Administration • French Educational Policy   • Cultural Assimilation • Impact of Western Thought • Impact of Foreign Wars   and Revolution • Impact of World War I • Struggle for National Independence   • Rise of Nationalism in Indonesia • The Revolution • Independent Indonesia   • Rise of Arab World • Problem of Palestine • Early History • The Problem of   Palestine • British Mandate and the Zionist Movement • Attempts to Solve the   Palestine Problems • Post-War   Developments Leading to Partition • Freedom   of Egypt • Egyptian Nationalism • British Declaration of 1929 • Anglo-Egyptian   Treaty of 1936 • Egypt and the World War II • Post-World   War II Developments   • The July Revolution and Freedom of Egypt • Foreign Policy of USA • Bases   of American Foreign Policy • Relations with Europe • Relations with the Far   East • Relations with Latin-America   • The Pan-American   Conferences • Foreign   Policy of USSR • Bases of Russian Diplomacy • Phases of Russian Foreign   Policy • First Phase • Second Phase, 19211934   • Third Phase, 193438   • Final   Phase, 19381945   • Russia’s Relations with Middle East • Soviet Relations   with the Far East • Russo-Chinese   Relations • Russo-Japanese   Relations   • Foreign Policy of Great Britain • Factors of British Foreign Policy • Protection   of Colonial Interest • Balance of Power • Splendid Isolation • Increasing   Dependence on British Commonwealth • Increasing Dependence on the U.S.A.   • A Support for the Course of Peace and Disarmament • Economic Recovery   and Increase in World Trade • Relations with France • Relations with Russia   • Relations with Italy • Relations with Germany • England and Disarmament   • England and the League • Foreign Policy of France • Franco-Russian   Treaty,   1935 • Franco-Italian   Treaty, 1935 • France and the Spanish Civil War • Franco-British   Alliance • Issue of Czechoslovakia • The Munich Pact • French   Appeasement • Bases of French Appeasement • Foreign Policy of Germany   • Withdrawal from the League • Polish-German   Non-Aggression   Pact • Attempt   on Austria by Force • Occupation of Saar by Germany • Anglo-German   Naval   Treaty, 1935 • Remilitarisation of Germany • Intervention in the Spanish Civil   War • Formation of the Axis • Anschluss of Austria with Germany • Attack on   Czechoslovakia • The Munich Pact • Russo-German   Non-Aggression   Pact and   Germany’s Invasion of Poland • Foreign Policy of Italy • Principles and   Objectives • Italy and Greece • Italy and France • Italy and Yugoslavia • Italy   and Albania • Italy and Abyssinia (Ethiopia) • Intervention in the Spanish Civil   War • Italy and Austria • Mussolini at the Munich Conference • Italy and World   War II • Foreign Policy of Japan • Washington Conference • Japan from 19221933   • Tanaka Memorial • Japan in Manchuria • Japan from 193245   • Causes   of the Success of Japan’s Foreign Policy • Japan and the Second World War   • Let Us Sum Up • Key Words • Select References         

4. Immediate Precedence to Second World War . 257
• Objectives • Introduction • Problem of Disarmament • Need for Disarmament  • Earlier Attempts at Disarmament • Disarmament Attempts Inside the  League • Disarmament Outside the League • Peace Treaty between Russia and  Finland (1920) • Washington Conference (192122)  • Moscow Disarmament  Conference (1922) • Geneva Conference (1927) • Pact of Paris (1928) • London  Naval Treaty (1930) • Angora-Protocol  (1930) • Anglo-German  Naval  Agreement (1935) • London Naval Conference (1935) • Causes for Failure  • Disarmament, 193945  • Policy of Appeasement • Reasons for Adoption of  Appeasement Policy • Fear of Communism • Balance of Power • Economic  Depression • Belief in Limited Appetite of Dictators • Selfish Interests of  England, France and USA • British Appeasement • Basis of British Appeasement  • Appeasement towards Japan • Appeasement towards Italy • Appeasement  towards Germany • French Appeasement • Firstly, France began to Safeguard  her Eastern Frontier • Bases of French Appeasement • American Appeasement  • Bases of American Appeasement • Appeasement towards Italy • Appeasement  towards Japan • Appeasement towards Spain • Appeasement towards Germany  • Impact of Appeasement Policy • Spanish Civil War • Causes of the Civil War  • Social and Economic Weakness • Weak Political Forces • Revolutionary  Movement after World War • Impact of the Dictatorship • Convening of the  Republic • Beginning of the Civil War • Nature of the Civil War • Attitude of  Italy and Germany • Attitude of Portugal • Attitude of Soviet Russia • Attitude  of Great Britain and France • Attitude of USA • Attitude of the League of  Nations • End of the Civil War • Recognition of New Regime • Impact of the  Civil War on Europe • The Second World War • Causes of the War • Provisions  of the Treaty of Versailles • Rise of Extreme Nationalism in Italy, Germany  and Japan • Failure of the League of Nations • Failure of Disarmament Efforts  • Discontents of National Minorities • Conflict of Ideologies • Economic Factors  • Policy of Appeasement • Rise of Two Rival Camps • Course of the War • First  Phase (September 3, 1939June22,  1941) • Second Phase (June 22, 1941December  8, 1941) • Third Phase (December 8, 1941November  8, 1942)  • Fourth Phase (November 8, 1942 – May 7, 1945) • Last Phase (May 7, 1945  – September 2, 1945) • The Manhattan Project • War in Poland and the Baltic  Region • War in Western Europe • War in Britain • War in the Balkan Region  • War in Eastern Europe • War in Africa and the Near East • U.S.A. and the  Second World War • War in the Far East • War in Mediterranean • War in Italy  • War in France • War in Germany • War in the Pacific • War Time Conferences  • Atlantic Charter, 1941 • Casablanca Conference • Moscow Conference  • Cairo Meet • Teheran Conference • Dumbarton Oaks Conference • Yalta  Conference • Potsdam Conference • Peace Treaties After World War II • Treaty  with Italy • Treaty with Bulgaria • Treaty with Hungary • Treaty with Rumania  • Treaty with Finland • Treaty with Austria • Treaty with Germany • Treaty  with Japan • Difficulties in Conclusion of Peace Treaties after World War II  • Results of the Second World War • Let Us Sum Up • Key Words • Select References.                   .

Index .327