Successes: International Agreements
History: Cambridge International GCSE The Twentieth Century (Option B), topic 2.2.2
International Agreements in the 1920s
Many countries decided to bypass the League of Nations in the 1920s by signing their own treaties. Some of these agreements are outlined below:
The Dawes Plan, 1924
- The Dawes Plan helped Germany pay their reparations (payments to the victors).
- This plan was designed by the American Charles Dawes,
- Banks in the US loaned 800 million Reichsmarks (the new currency of Germany) to German industries.
- Reparation instalments (fixed regular payments) were temporarily made £50 million a year.
- This plan succeeded in boosting the German economy (which was in ruins).
Locarno Pact, 1925
- In 1925, Germany signed an agreement with Great Britain, France, Italy and Belgium called the Locarno Pact.
- In this pact, Germany recognised their borders with France and the demilitarisation (withdrawing military from an area) of the Rhineland.
- The Locarno Pact also paved the way for Germany to be added to the League of Nations.
- But, Czechoslovakia and Poland were still concerned.
- Because the agreement said nothing about their borders with Germany.
Kellogg-Briand Pact, 1928
- In 1928, Germany was one of 65 countries to sign the Kellogg-Briand Pact.
- In this pact, countries agreed to disarm (give up or reduce armed forces) and not use 'aggression' to resolve disagreements.
- Downsides of this agreement were that 'aggression' wasn't defined.
- Also, it was unclear what the consequences of breaking the pact would be.
- Nonetheless, this pact represented a big step in the right direction towards peace.
The Young Plan, 1929
- The Young Plan proposed to reduce German reparations (payments to the victors) as Germany was still having problems finding the money.
- The Young Plan aimed to lower the total reparations from £6.6 billion to £2 billion.
- The payments would continue until 1988.
- Several Brits thought reducing the reparations again wasn't fair.
Test yourself on Successes: International Agreements
Which of the following was NOT an agreement aimed at promoting international peace after WWI?
Which of the following international agreements was signed in 1925?
International Agreements in the 1920s
Which of the following is true of the Dawes Plan?