The French approach to disarmament between 1920-1930 : policy making process, principles and methods

Abstract

This thesis analyses France's disarmament approach between 1920 and 1930, arguing that this was designed by the military, aided by experts, to shield the country's defence capabilities from disarmament. This is illustrated by analysis of the French security concept, the disarmament making process, and the method and principles underlying disarmament policy. Security is approached from two angles: concept and means. The concept consisted of three dimensions: security against Germany; security of the empire; and the preservation of the status quo of the world order. The means set to achieve this security were alliance with America and Britain, collective security and France's own military capabilities. France failed to achieve the first two and her own army was overwhelmed by internal and external problems. The result was the country's vulnerability and the subordination of disarmament to security. The formal process by which this conditional disarmament was elaborated consisted of the French Service of the League of Nations and the Supreme Council of National Defence (Le Counseil Superieur de La Defense Nationale (CSDN)) which had two subsidiaries: the Permanent General Secretariat and a Study Commission. These institutions were largely staffed by the military and experts whose say in disarmament was dominant to the point of relegation of the executive's role to rubber stamping and the almost complete exclusion of parliament. Such a process produced a disarmament approach based on a constant set of principles and methods. The three principles were: no disarmament without security, interdependence of forces, and war potential. The methods related to three ways of carrying out disarmament: by limitation of effectiveness, military expenditure, or material. France adopted different views on each of these methods according to its defence organisation and security needs. The thesis concludes by confirming that the French disarmament approach between 1920 and 1930 was designed by the military and the experts who had a monopoly over the decision making process. The set of principles and methods composing this approach were calculated on the basis of the country's defence and security weakness in order to counteract disarmament.

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