Attlee and the International Crises, 1935–40

Abstract

After the 1935 general election the Labour Party had to complete the process of redefining its foreign policy amidst a rapidly emerging series of international crises, in which the threat of war grew ever closer. There were crises in Abyssinia, Spain and the Rhineland. The difficult question of major rearmament, and further crises in the Far East and Austria, had to be faced. The party also had to consider Chamberlain’s appeasement policy and ultimately the problems of international affairs during the Phoney War. Attlee was only reluctantly and gradually driven by the recurrent crises of the period to accept that force might, and at the last resort must, be used against Germany. But he was still playing a crucial role by providing a forceful and intelligent critique of Chamberlain’s appeasement policy. Further, by insisting that fundamental differences on foreign policy separated the parties, he helped Labour to become perceived as a viable alternative government.