1. Challenges to Peacekeeping in the 1920s

2. Withdrawal of the USA
US Senate refused to ratify the Paris Treaties; never joined the League of Nations
No Anglo-American Guarantee
France was left deal with Germany on its own

3. Japanese Expansion
After WWI, the US and other powers became increasingly concerned about Japanese influence in the Pacific

4. The Washington Naval Conference (1921-1922)
US sought to prevent conflict with Japan & to stop a renewed naval arms race
9 treaties were signed, mainly among the US, Britain, France, Japan, and Italy
The Five Power Naval Limitation Treaty
Set a limit on warship tonnage
US & UK- 500,000
Japan- 300,000
France & Italy- 175,000
A moratorium on building new capital ships

5. The Washington Naval Conference (cont.)
Other Agreements
No expansion of Pacific naval bases
End of the Anglo-Japanese Treaty of 1902
Open-door policy in China
No agreement on cruisers or subs
Analysis of Effects
Prevented conflict in Asia , relieved tensions, ended the arms race
US preserved the status quo
Benefited Japan because they could not afford an arms race with the US
Left US Pacific bases vulnerable
Smaller and faster ships

6. The Geneva Naval Conference (1927)
US, Britain, & Japan attempted to address unresolved issues of the Washington Conference
Issue of cruisers was not resolved
No treaties were signed
Resulted in a renewed naval race

7. The London Naval Conference (1930)
Resolved the issue of cruiser tonnage with a ratio of 10:10:7
Increased ratio favored Japan
Extended the moratorium on ship construction for 5 more years
London Conference of 1935
To renew the Washington agreements
US, France, & Britain agreed to stop building cruisers for 6 years
Japan walked out of the meeting

8. The Ruhr Crisis In 1923, France occupied the Ruhr
The Weimar government encouraged workers in the Ruhr to strike & paid them
The government printed money to cover their expenses & to pay war debts
This resulted in hyperinflation & economic disaster
Distrust in the Weimar government increased

9. The Streseman Years (1924-1929)
Gustav Streseman led Germany out of crisis
New currency introduced
The Dawes Plan
US aided Germany
Lowered reparations payments
Economy grew well
American influence increased

10. The Locarno Agreement 1925
Germany agreed to respect its western border with France and Belgium.
This allowed Germany to enter the League of Nations and removed Germany from diplomatic isolation
Created great optimism amongst world leaders
“Locarno Spring”
Germany’s return to normalcy
The Great War seemed to be finally resolved