Disarmament: Washington, Disarmament: Washington, London, and Geneva London, and Geneva

ConferencesConferences

Background: Rising Tension Background: Rising Tension between the US and Japanbetween the US and Japan

Japan wanted to expand its territory and Japan wanted to expand its territory and wanted to dominate China wanted to dominate China

This could ruin the trade relations China This could ruin the trade relations China had with other countries had with other countries

The United States was not happy about The United States was not happy about this as it did not want to lose its trade with this as it did not want to lose its trade with China and it had possessions in the China and it had possessions in the Philippines that where threatened by Philippines that where threatened by Japan  Japan 

Japan was unhappy about the fact that the Japan was unhappy about the fact that the United States did not recognize Japan's position United States did not recognize Japan's position in Asia and it felt threatened by the increasing in Asia and it felt threatened by the increasing US fleet US fleet

As tension grew there was talk of a possible war As tension grew there was talk of a possible war between the two between the two

The UK was very concerned about this as it had The UK was very concerned about this as it had a defensive alliance with Japan a defensive alliance with Japan

For this reason the UK supported the For this reason the UK supported the Washington Conference on disarmamentWashington Conference on disarmament

DisarmamentDisarmament

A major contributor to the First World War A major contributor to the First World War was the arms race was the arms race

Reducing the armaments was mentioned Reducing the armaments was mentioned in Wilson's Fourteen Points and it was an in Wilson's Fourteen Points and it was an important target for the League of Nations important target for the League of Nations

In doing so the goal was to reduce the In doing so the goal was to reduce the threat of a future war threat of a future war

A permanent advisory commission on A permanent advisory commission on armaments was appointed armaments was appointed

Support for DisarmamentSupport for Disarmament

The belief that the arms race was a major The belief that the arms race was a major cause of the war and so reducing arms cause of the war and so reducing arms would reduce the treat of a future war would reduce the treat of a future war

A lot of countries where in debt, the costs A lot of countries where in debt, the costs of the arms where high, countries wanted of the arms where high, countries wanted to focus on rebuilding their economy to focus on rebuilding their economy

Washington Naval Washington Naval ConferenceConference

What?What?

Military conference called by the administration Military conference called by the administration of President Warren G. Harding, from of President Warren G. Harding, from Nov.1921~ Feb. 1922Nov.1921~ Feb. 1922

Three major treaties emerged out of the Three major treaties emerged out of the Washington Conference: the Five-Power Treaty, Washington Conference: the Five-Power Treaty, the Four-Power Treaty, and the Nine-Power the Four-Power Treaty, and the Nine-Power Treaty.Treaty.

Primary objective was to inhibit Japanese naval Primary objective was to inhibit Japanese naval expansion in the waters of the west Pacificexpansion in the waters of the west Pacific

It was the most successful of disarmament It was the most successful of disarmament conferences conferences

Why was the conference called?Why was the conference called?

There where two reasons for which the There where two reasons for which the conference was called. conference was called.

First, Japan and the UK could not afford the First, Japan and the UK could not afford the costs of the arms race and the United States costs of the arms race and the United States wanted to reduce its own costs. wanted to reduce its own costs.

Secondly there was growing tension between Secondly there was growing tension between Japan and the United States in Asia and the Japan and the United States in Asia and the United States wanted to avoid conflict which United States wanted to avoid conflict which could involve many countries could involve many countries

Terms of the TreatiesTerms of the Treaties

Four Power Treaty Four Power Treaty Five Power Treaty Five Power Treaty Nine Power Treaty Nine Power Treaty

Four Power TreatyFour Power Treaty

(December 13, 1921). The major Allied (December 13, 1921). The major Allied powers — Britain, France, Japan and the powers — Britain, France, Japan and the United States —United States —

An agreement to recognize each others An agreement to recognize each others possessions in the Pacific and if problems possessions in the Pacific and if problems arose there was an agreement to reach aarose there was an agreement to reach adiplomatic solutiondiplomatic solution

Five Power Treaty Five Power Treaty

Agreed to maintain a fixed constant ratio Agreed to maintain a fixed constant ratio of naval armaments  of naval armaments 

No new naval armaments where to be No new naval armaments where to be constructed for the next ten years constructed for the next ten years

The United States and Britain where not The United States and Britain where not allowed to build new naval bases in the allowed to build new naval bases in the western Pacificwestern Pacific   

Five Power TreatyFive Power Treaty

Five Power TreatyFive Power Treaty USUS 5 5 (Based on 525,000 tons)(Based on 525,000 tons) BritainBritain 55 JapanJapan 33 France France 1.671.67 ItalyItaly 1.671.67 Limits on tonnage, gun size and number of battleships Limits on tonnage, gun size and number of battleships

and aircraft carriers.and aircraft carriers. Major point of contention between Japan and the United Major point of contention between Japan and the United

States.States.

Nine Power Treaty Nine Power Treaty

Nine-Power TreatyNine-Power Treaty (February 6, 1922). (February 6, 1922). The signatories — the Big Four, plus Italy, The signatories — the Big Four, plus Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and China — endorsed the Open Door Policy China — endorsed the Open Door Policy and pledged mutual respect for Chinese and pledged mutual respect for Chinese territorial integrity and independence. territorial integrity and independence.

Open Door Policy Open Door Policy

The The Open Door PolicyOpen Door Policy is a concept in is a concept in foreign affairs, which usually refers to the foreign affairs, which usually refers to the policy around 1900 allowing multiple policy around 1900 allowing multiple Imperial powers access to China, with Imperial powers access to China, with none of them in control of that country. none of them in control of that country.

EffectsEffects

The Washington Naval Treaty led to an effective The Washington Naval Treaty led to an effective end to building new battleship fleets and those end to building new battleship fleets and those few ships that were built were limited in size and few ships that were built were limited in size and armament. armament.

Numbers of existing capital ships were Numbers of existing capital ships were scrapped. Some ships under construction were scrapped. Some ships under construction were turned into aircraft carriers instead.turned into aircraft carriers instead.

Geneva Naval Geneva Naval ConferenceConference

Geneva Naval ConferenceGeneva Naval Conference The The Geneva Naval ConferenceGeneva Naval Conference was a was a

conference held to discuss naval arms conference held to discuss naval arms limitation, in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1927. limitation, in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1927.

Geneva ConferenceGeneva Conference

Restraints were applied to the naval arms Restraints were applied to the naval arms race by the treaties stemming from the race by the treaties stemming from the Washington Conference (1921-22), but Washington Conference (1921-22), but those agreements were largely confined to those agreements were largely confined to limitations on battleships and aircraft limitations on battleships and aircraft carriers. carriers.

Talks dragged on for nearly six weeks Talks dragged on for nearly six weeks while tensions rose among the former while tensions rose among the former Allies. In early August, the delegates Allies. In early August, the delegates adjourned without reaching any significant adjourned without reaching any significant agreement. agreement.

The London Naval The London Naval ConferenceConference

19301930

London Naval TreatyLondon Naval Treaty

The The London Naval TreatyLondon Naval Treaty was an agreement was an agreement between the United Kingdom, Japan, France, between the United Kingdom, Japan, France, Italy and the United States, signed on April 22, Italy and the United States, signed on April 22, 1930, which regulated submarine warfare and 1930, which regulated submarine warfare and limited naval shipbuilding.limited naval shipbuilding.

It was a revision and an extension of the Washington It was a revision and an extension of the Washington treaty treaty

US, Japan, Britain, Italy and France met in London US, Japan, Britain, Italy and France met in London Ratio of capital ships moved from 5:5:3 for the US, Ratio of capital ships moved from 5:5:3 for the US,

Britain and Japan respectively to 10:10:7 Britain and Japan respectively to 10:10:7 France and Italy did not take part in this agreement France and Italy did not take part in this agreement

however they did agree to continue to not build new however they did agree to continue to not build new naval armaments for the next five years naval armaments for the next five years

Agreements on the numbers of submarines, cruisers and Agreements on the numbers of submarines, cruisers and destroyers that each country could have where made destroyers that each country could have where made

Submarine warfare rules where made more strict Submarine warfare rules where made more strict The Treaty was to remain valid until 1936 The Treaty was to remain valid until 1936