Basic HTML Version
Januacy
1972
The
PLAIN TRUTI-1
War is Paved with Good lntentions
1935:
Peace on the Horizon?
JANUARY 7 -
France and
Italy reach an agreement on their
conflicting interests in Africa. The
agrecment is actually meant to pave
the way for Franco-Italian coopera–
tion in the event of any action by
Germany.
MAY 2 - France and Russia
conclude a
five-year
all iance. Each
promises to aid the other in the case
of unprovoked aggression.
MAY 16 - Russia signs a non–
aggression pact with Czechoslovakia.
)UNE 18-Signing of the Anglo–
German Naval Agreement. The
agreement provides that Germany's
navy ( induding submarines) is not
to become larger than
35%
of Great
Britain's navy.
1936:
Germany on t he Move
OCTOBER 25 - A German–
Italian Pact establishcs the Berlin–
Rome Axis.
NOVEMBER 25 - A German–
Japanese agreement is followed by
an Jtalian-Japanese agreement. The
dual pact drawn up by German For–
eign Minister von Ribbentrop is
directed against possible Communist
aggrcssion.
1937:
War Clouds Gather
JANUARY 2 - Great Britain
and ltaly sigo an agrcement insur–
ing the mutual respcct of their in–
Jividual interests and rights in the
MeJiterranean area.
NOVEMBER 17 - Lord Hali–
fax, member of the British Cabinet
visits Hitler and is impressed by his
plans for central and eastern Europe.
DECEMBER 1-17 -
French
foreign minister M. Dclbos pays an
extended visit to france's allies,
( Poland, Romanía, Yugoslavia, and
Czcchoslovakia) hoping to put life
into the French alliance system and
to prepare for any German moves in
Central Europe.
1938:
On the Eve of World War 11
APRIL 16 - The Anglo-Italian
Pact is concluded. The British are
eager to free themselves of Italian
hostility in the Mediterraneao aod
Middle East. Mussolini desires sorne
couotcrweight to the oppressive
friendship of Hitler.
MAY 3-9 - Hitler visits Rome.
It is a great and impressive state
function designed to demonstrate
the solidarity of the Rome-Berlin
Axis.
JULY 19-21 - King George VI
aod Queen Elizabeth visit París. The
visit is clearly meant as a demon–
stration of Anglo-
F
rench solidarity.
SEPTEMBER - The Munich de–
bacle. Fraoce aod England give in
to Hitler's demands and Czechoslo–
vakia's Sudentenland becomes a part
of the Third Reich. Hitler proclaims
that tbe acquisition is tbe last daim
he will make on tbe European Con–
tinent. British Prime Minister Ne–
ville Cbamberlain returns to England
with a promise of "Peace in our
time."
NOVEMBER 26 - Poland and
Russia suddenly renew their non–
aggression pact.
DECEMBER
6
-
France and
Germany conclude a pact by which
they guarantee the inviolability of
the existing frontier. Both parties
provide for coosultation with the
aim of settling any disputes peace–
fully.
1939:
The Lights Go Out in Europe
APRI L 15 - President Roose–
velt, in a letter to Hitler and Mus–
solini, asks assurances against attack
on tbirty-one Europcan and Middle
East nations. In response Hitler
pub! idy restates German grievances
and claims. He denies aggressive
intentions.
AUGUST 23 -
The Russo–
German Non-aggression Pact is
signed by Foreign Ministers Molotov
and von Ribbentrop. Eacb nation
guarantees it will rcfrain from
attacking the other. Also, neutrality
of either party is established if the
otber is attacked by a tbird power.
AUGUST 24 - President Roose–
velt appeals to King Víctor Imman–
uel, Hitler and President Moscicki
of Poland over tbc Danzig Crisis.
British Prime Minister Neville
Chamberlain returns from Munich
in September 1938 with a prom–
ise of "peace in our time" -
World Wor 11
began 11 short
months later.
AUGUST 25 - Roosevelt again
appeals to Hitler to seek a peaceful
solution.
SEPTEMBER 1 -
Germany
launches all-out Jaod and air attack
on Poland.
SEPTEMBER 2 - Italy proposes
a five-power conference to discuss
tbc Polish Crisis. Britain refuses to
negotiate as long as German soldiers
remain on Polisb soil.
SEPTEMBER 3 - England and
France declare war on Germany–
World War II begins. The era of
negotiation is over; war is the tragic
reality.
Source:
LAnger's Eucyclopedia of
JF/
orld History.
11