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‘The true author of European Peace’: The Foreign Office, the League and Locarno, December 1924–December 1926
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 October 2009
Extract
Since his early student travels to France and Germany Chamberlain believed that he had been in training for the Foreign Office. Although he had accepted the shadow portfolio for foreign affairs on his return to the Conservative front bench in February, however, he did not consider the Foreign Office as a possibility until Baldwin first raised the question in October 1924. At this juncture, daunted by the expense, the exacting burden of work with which he was unfamiliar and the attendant political risks, Chamberlain had been inclined to prefer a return to the India Office. In the event, his wife recommended the Foreign Office and, rather uncharacteristically, he was soon confiding to his sisters that he had ‘rapidly found [his] feet’. Within a year he was rejoicing in afar greater sense of fulfilment from the Foreign Office than he could ever have expected from being Prime Minister. To a considerable degree this satisfaction was derived from the very special nature of the position enjoyed by a British Foreign Secretary. As he noted when the offer was first made, the Foreign Office ‘is the highest office in the public estimation’: a status reflected in the special pomp and dignity which surrounded its holder. As Eden later recalled, the Foreign Secretary's journey to Geneva was ‘something of an event and took place at a measured pace. The top-hatted stationmaster and the Foreign Office representatives at Victoria, the harbourmaster at Dover bowing us on to the ship, the préfect and the mayor of Calais, then the drive across Paris and dinner at the Embassy, the night train at the Gare de Lyon, where M. Briand and some other of Sir Austen's colleagues were also embarking for Geneva. Finally, the arrival at Geneva, about 7.30 in the morning, when the whole staff was paraded to meet their chief at the station’. In many respects, Chamberlain was ideally suited by character and temperament to fulfil such a role as a model British Foreign Secretary.
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References
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63 F.A. Macquisten proposed a Private Members Bill to compel trade unionists to ‘contract in’ rather than ‘contract out’ of the political levy. Baldwin opposed it on grounds of timing and tactics to preserve the government's role as defender of industrial peace. His speech to the Commons with the plea ‘Give peace in our time. O Lord’, was a triumph.
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66 Joseph Caillaux (1863–1944) Socialist Radical Deputy, 1898–1919 when convicted of treason. Amnesty 1924 and Senator 1925–44. Minister of Finance 1899–1902, 1906–9, 1911, 1913–14, 1925, 1926, 1935; Prime Minister 1911–12. Chairman of Commission of Finances 1937–40.
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(1884–1948). Czechoslovak Foreign Minister; President League of Nations Assembly 1935; President of Czechoslovakia 1935–38 and 1945–48. President in exile in London 1942–45.
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90 Arthur James Cook (1883–1931) General Secretary MFGB 1924–31.
91 On 17 September Briand and Stresemann met in secret at Thoiry near Geneva and came to a far-reaching agreement to remove German war guilt, grant mandates, return the Saar without a plebiscite and evacuate the Rhine within a year. In return, France would obtain substantial and much-needed payments to bolster the Franc. The stabilisation of the Franc and financial objections in Britain and France led to the collapse of the plan.
92 William Lyon Mackenzie King (1874–1950) Canadian economist and politician. Deputy Minister of Labour, 1900–8; Liberal MP 1908–11, 1921–49; Minister of Labour 1909–11; Liberal Leader 1919–48; Prime Minister 1921–30, 1935–48.
93 Dr General James Barry Munnik Hertzog (1866–1942) South African soldier and politician. Cabinet Minister 1910–12 when resigned to establish National Party; Prime Minister 1924–1939; Minister of Native Affairs 1924–29; Minister of External Affairs 1929–39.
94 Kevin O'Higgins (1892–1927) Sinn Fein MP 1918–22. Minister of Home Affairs of Irish Free State 1922–3; Vice-Pres and Minister of Justice 1923–27.
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99 Oswald Ernald Mosley (1896–1980) Conservative MP for Harrow 1918–20 then Independent 1920–24 and later Labour May–October 1924. Unsuccessful Labour candidate against Neville Chamberlain in Birmingham Ladywood October 1924; Labour MP Smethwick December 1926–February 1931 then New Party February–October 1931. Chancellor Duchy of Lancaster 1929–30; Leader New Party 1931–32, of British Union of Fascists 1932–40, of Union Movement 1948–66. Interned 1940–44. Succeeded 6th Bart. 1928.