LONDON INTERNATIONAL MODEL UNITED NATIONS 2018 1! LONDON INTERNATIONAL MODEL UNITED NATIONS 2018 Table of Contents Introduction Letter 3 Introduction to the Joint Cabinet Crisis 5 1937: The Crossroads of Diplomacy 8 Introduction: Understanding the Crisis behind Appeasement 8 The Political Economy of Europe 9 Timeline: The Rise of Nazism in Germany 13 Timeline: The Rise of Fascism in Italy 14 The United Kingdom 15 Economy and Trade 15 Treaties 18 Overview of Early 20th Century British History & Politics 18 Britain in the First World War 21 Italy 23 The Italian peninsula 23 A modern struggle for unity 23 Italy in the 20th century 25 Economy and Trade 26 Role in WWI and Treaties 29 France 33 History and Politics 33 Economy and Trade 35 Foreign Policy and Treaties 39 The League of Nations 43 History and Formation 43 The League of Nations in the Interwar Crisis 46 Current Challenges 48 Sources 51 Joint Cabinet Crisis London International Model United Nations 19th Session | 2018 2! LONDONLONDON INTERNATIONALINTERNATIONAL MODELMODEL UNITEDUNITED NATIONSNATIONS 20182018 Introduction Letter Dear Delegates, I would like to warmly welcome you to our Joint Cabinet Crisis committee which will be based on the Appeasement Years from May 1937. This Crisis is designed for both beginner and advanced delegates, whether you are a committed Crisis delegate or someone who prefers General Assembly debate and are interested in a new experience. You are all part of an ambitious project to simulate one of the most critical points of history in the Interwar period, not only to experience the issues European powers faced comprehensively but also to work towards alternatives which could potentially prevent the Second World War. The focus of this Crisis committee is to enable bring out the best in the Model United Nations experience through a combination of Crisis and General Assembly procedure; putting the Resolution into practice. While the League of Nations faced great power struggles and lack of implementation of its beliefs, delegates will face the same challenge the predecessor institution of the United Nations did – war. While 3! LONDON INTERNATIONAL MODEL UNITED NATIONS 2018 diplomacy is used as a mechanism to prevent conflict, this Crisis will also evaluate how leaders and ambassadors operate throughout numerous conflicts across Europe, such as that of the Spanish Civil War. We ask each and every delegate to challenge themselves in this new experience that is our historical journey, for we will surely challenge every cabinet and the League of Nations in approaching domestic and transnational crises. While it is surely not the inception of global diplomacy despite the first time many smaller countries are represented on such a scale, the consequences of this period will define the 20th century in trade, military capabilities and ultimately, the Western historical narrative of the origins of the Second World War. We look forward to meeting you all at LIMUN 2018 and this Study Guide proves useful in understanding our topic for this simulation. Yours Sincerely, Hamzah Sheikh (Crisis Director) Roberta Maggi and Muqqaddam Malik (Assistant Directors) 4! LONDONLONDON INTERNATIONALINTERNATIONAL MODELMODEL UNITEDUNITED NATIONSNATIONS 20182018 Introduction to the Joint Cabinet Crisis This crisis is based on the diplomatic crossroads of a continent that struggled with the long-term effects of the global crises of the Great Depression and the First World War. It is also known as the Appeasement Years in which the Great Powers failed to prevent Hitler’s regime from advancing on Eastern Europe, before Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain declared war on Germany for invoking their agreement that promised to keep Poland independent from Nazi control. While a century-old debate exists on whether the British should have intervened earlier to prevent the Second World War, the arguments between orthodox and revisionist perspectives as well as numerous counterfactual theories will be put to the test in this Crisis Committee. The starting point in this setting will be the 28th May 1937, the day Chamberlain assumed leadership over a new, National Government of the United Kingdom. This Crisis will be an opportunity for all delegates to engage with the underlying factors behind the process that began WW2. With the countries of Britain, France and Italy present as Cabinets along with the diplomatic body of the League of Nations, leaders, politicians and ambassadors are tasked to determine the direction of what 5! LONDON INTERNATIONAL MODEL UNITED NATIONS 2018 could have happened differently. It is hindsight that will provide the challenge for all delegates in hopes of advancing the interests of their country populations, whether it is Britain’s intention to maintain its global empire, Italy’s aspiration to dominate the Mediterranean, France’s drive to advance its Republic or the League of Nations chance to overcome its history of failure to provide a diplomatic solution to global crisis. It is strongly recommended both advanced and beginner delegates read the Crisis guides available on the LIMUN website (https://limun.org.uk/help_guides) to become more informed on Rules of Procedure, what to expect in crisis committees and how to engage with all mechanics of the simulation. Messages, news updates and directives will be facilitated by Deus Crisis Platform, a system created by crisis experts that has improved the operation of Crisis Committees and all delegates will be given a tutorial on how to use it on the first day of committee session. Roles and Responsibilities Delegates have all been given roles that entail a character’s history, position of power and objectives in the simulation. It is important that every delegate learns and researches their character in order to understand what they are capable of when submitting directives, along with acknowledging the history, allegiances and limitations of that of their character in May 1937. Simply having the ability to take certain action comes with consequences for a character and has to be realistic, especially within the framework of a historical crisis. All characters are not immortal and could possibly endure travel logistics, political scandal and conspiracy and assassination. Death will not be as frequent as it was in the trenches of the First World War, however in the case it will happen, it will be monumental in determining character and country relations, shifts in power and change in public opinion, all variables for each delegate to consider when submitting directives. The Crisis Team will be responsible for personally responding to your directives by updating the news and simulated countries and characters that are not represented by 6! LONDON INTERNATIONAL MODEL UNITED NATIONS 2018 Chairs or delegates. When engaging with this simulation of historical events, we ask you consider the culture and technology of society at the time when submitting directives and evaluating the effects. This is a particular stage of globalisation where despite rapid development of science and industry radically changing the behaviour of countries within the span of decades, it is still far from the standard of accessibility we have today and therefore this needs to be considered in this ‘alternate reality’ we will provide for you in the committee. The same applies to how government institutions choose to operate and how news is reported and delivered to mass audiences, as well as the numerous advantages of air power and sound technology, practicality correlating with innovation. Crisis Chairs will assume characters that were leaders of the countries represented as cabinets. Chairs will act with their own interests and that of the Crisis Team, however will be excluded on most information limited to what their character realistically has access to throughout the period. They will assert the agenda on the first day of committee session, assisting you in understanding and engaging the crisis simulation and guiding everyone to reach the objectives of their respective cabinets. Their prime objective is to lead the cabinet and every delegate’s progress, even if it creates clashes with the motives and methods of another character including their own. 7! LONDON INTERNATIONAL MODEL UNITED NATIONS 2018 1937: The Crossroads of Diplomacy Introduction: Understanding the Crisis behind Appeasement The consolidation of power from both Nazi and Fascist leaders had posed issues for the League of Nations. Not only did Hitler withdraw from the League in October 1933 but he also introduced two-year conscription and the development of the German air force, which was not only a violation of the Treaty of Versailles but also a threat to Chamberlain, who as Chancellor, had always prioritised funding for power in the skies over the Royal Navy. A militaristic Germany was a threat to Central and Eastern Europe and its goals to expand territorial interests in connection to German domination of Jews and Slavs alarmed its neighbours. In March 1936, the Nazis established control and remilitarised the Rhineland while Europe focused on Mussolini’s conquest for the Mediterranean in hopes of reviving Italy’s symbolic history of the Roman Empire with the goal of invading Abyssinia, which he succeeded in doing despite Emperor Haile Selassie’s protest to the League of Nations (Best, 2008, 162-165). The Appeasement policy was not only limited to the British Empire. Italy had entertained diplomatic treaties from the Locarno powers, where Mussolini wanted to prevent Hitler from becoming an enemy in anticipation of German troops in Austria. However, when Mussolini moved towards Abyssinia, he was met with sanctions from the League before he eventually succeeded in securing his invasion in 1936. Hitler 8! LONDON INTERNATIONAL MODEL UNITED NATIONS 2018 offered neutrality to Italy, which in turn gave the Germans a free-hand to work with Austrian fascists while both countries supported Franco’s nationalist regime in the Spanish Civil War. While Europe was gripped in crisis, both the British and the French were reluctant to start another war.