Treaties of Locarno

In October of 1925 Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Poland, and Czechoslovakia participated in the Locarno Conferences. Four of the five agreements were arbitration conventions between Germany and its neighbors. The fifth was the Treaty of Mutual Guarantee, also called the Rhineland Pact.

The Rhineland Pact was a "multilateral regional security agreement" that reaffirmed and specified the "inviolability" of the German-Belgian and Franco-German borders as set by the Treaty of Versailles. However, no mention of the German border on the east was made. In addition, neither of the countries would attack one another except in "legitimate defense" or if told so by the League of Nations- which would decide which nation committed a violation. In addition, there would be an evacuation of Allied troops five years before the time stipulated by the Versailles Treaty. Moreover, Britain and Italy pledged to resist whatever country violated the demilitarized Rhineland. Also, Germany was allowed to join the League of Nations and the new ‘Locarno spirit’ of peace was established.

The Treaties of Locarno were hailed as the dawn of a new era of peace and the French Foreign Secretary, Aristide Briand, "received a hero’s welcome" in Paris. At the time Locarno was signed it was viewed as a "monument of peace". Modern sources believe that "Stressman, Briand, and Chamberlain did not themselves test the adequacy of Locarno as a security pact"

In terms of direct French military security, the Rhineland Pact had several evident disadvantages.:

1) The end of nearly universal guarantees of French security as previously provided by the Geneva Protocol (the Geneva Protocol was defeated in London in March).

2) The end of an "exclusive military alliance with Britain which would have functioned solely to Frances’s advantage". Prior to the Locarno treaty, Articles 42-44 of the Treaty of Versailles gave Britain the right, but not the obligation, to go to war in case of any "hostile act". In addition, the security of France was guaranteed by the military occupation of the Rhineland, preventing the possibility of any German attack. Under Locarno, British military assistance would be immediately provided to France "only in the event of some serious threat of an aggressive character". In addition, Locarno prevented staff talks between England and France.

3) Allowing German unity and prevention of any future attempts by France to unilaterally enforce military sanctions or security measures.

4) Opening of the possibility that delays in French and League Council deliberations would allow Germany to invade Poland. Locarno, in effect, improved German military position by reducing the possibility of a two front war. In addition, it has been argued by some that during the time the League would spent deliberating, the Germans could attack the Rhineland and gain a significant military advantage.

Locarno has been criticized for being an incomplete system. Poincaré said, "England becomes the arbiter of Franco-German relations". The Locarno Treaty placed all European relations on terms of mutual agreement.

The Rhineland Pact allowed the British to not have to take sides in a dispute. The British did indeed promise to protect France in the case of a German attack. However, Chamberlain also guaranteed German protection in case of a French invasion of the Ruhr valley. It was the belief of Chamberlain that the full acceptance of Germany as a member of the ‘Concert of Europe’ was necessary for stability.

The Rhineland Pact did not improve French security, but rather allowed Germany much more freedom and gave France less power to protect itself. In addition, it was clearly a mistake to place England as the mediator of Franco-German relations. "Rather than being a guarantee against invasion, Locarno was a guarantee of victory". German troops entered the Rhineland in March of 1936, declaring that the situation specified by the Locarno treaties had changed because of the Franco-Soviet alliance of 1935. France believed Germany’s occupation to be a "flagrant violation" of Locarno, however England disagreed and no actions were taken.

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