Belgian foreign policy between two wars 1919 - 1940
- New York Bookman Associates 1951
- 337 p.
AS THE TITLE suggests, this study is concerned with the diplomatic aspects of Belgium's foreign policy during the period between the two world wars. It traces the shift from a policy of cooperation with the Allies of 1914-1918 to one of complete independence, showing the effect of internal politics upon foreign relations. One phase the commercial-has been deliberately omitted, except where, as in the Oslo and Ouchy agreements, there was a clear relationship between it and political developments.
The method pursued has been broadly chronological, although for the sake of clarity a few subjects have been traced to their con clusion before an overlapping topic has been taken up. A chapter on Belgian domestic politics forms the first section of the work, in order to serve as a background against which to watch the varying phases of foreign relations, and to provide an explanation for some of the policies adopted. Then the history of Belgium at the peace conference is presented, and some of the problems immediately connected with the treaty are discussed. Reparations, war debts, and security receive full treatment, bringing the story down to the de pression. The gradual change in Belgian policy from cooperation to independence is foreshadowed, explained, and commented on; and its disastrous results are briefly described in the concluding chapter.
The sources on which this study is based are the published de bates and documents of the Belgian Parliament, and contemporary newspapers and periodicals. The former provided the factual basis for the study, and gave official interpretations; the latter supplied material for the description of the interrelations of politics, public opinion, and foreign policy. Although except for some material used in the chapters on the Paris peace conference and reparations, no confidential documents have been available, the present study is presented as a contribution to knowledge since it embodies the only extensive study of this phase of Belgian history which has been made since the first world war.