The Mediterranean Security Problem in the Foreign Policy of Great Britain (Spring 1938 — Spring 1939)

One of the main objectives of the Mediterranean policy of Great Britain in the late 1930s was a defence of the British sea communications to the Indian Ocean: Gibral- tar-Malta-Cyprus-Suez Canal. The security of these communications was threatened by Italy’s foreign policy ambitions in the Mediterranean. Faced with a number of threats in different parts of the British Empire emanating simultaneously from Germany, Japan, and Italy, London considered that it was possible to secure its Mediterranean interests through the development of a dialogue with Rome, which became a determining factor in British policy in the Mediterranean. This approach was reflected in the conclusion of an Anglo-Italian agreement in April 1938 which meant the refusal of Great Britain to cooperate with France and other powers of the region. London was ready to cooperate with them only in case of a military conflict. However, a year later after the conclusion of the Anglo-Italian treaty Great Britain, pursuing a policy of appeasement, began to seek allies against Italy, although the policy of the latter did not undergo serious changes in relation to London. This article attempts to consider changes in British assessments of the effectiveness of the Anglo-Italian treaty as a means of ensuring the security of British interests in the Mediterranean. This allows to observe, in general, the evolution of the British Mediterranean policy. It was the spring of 1939 when London revised its attitude to the problem of safeguarding its interests in the Mediterranean region, recognizing the inefficiency of the treaty with Italy and moving on to practical measures, in particular, to the “guarantee policy”. Nevertheless, such policy transition meant only small changes since the evolution of British approaches to ensuring their Mediterranean interests was not completed in the spring of 1939.

Keywords

Anglo-Italian agreement 1938, Mediterranean policy of Great Britain, Mediterranean security, policy of appeasement, policy of guaranties

Received

11.05.2020

Publication date

06.08.2020

Number of characters

49008

Cite

GOST	Savinova A. The Mediterranean Security Problem in the Foreign Policy of Great Britain (Spring 1938 — Spring 1939) // Novaia i noveishaia istoriia – 2020. – Issue 4 C. 67-82 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://nni.jes.su/S013038640010325-5-1 (circulation date: 02.05.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S013038640010325-5
MLA	Savinova, Anna "The Mediterranean Security Problem in the Foreign Policy of Great Britain (Spring 1938 — Spring 1939)." Novaia i noveishaia istoriia 4 (2020):67-82. DOI: 10.31857/S013038640010325-5
APA	Savinova A. (2020). The Mediterranean Security Problem in the Foreign Policy of Great Britain (Spring 1938 — Spring 1939). Novaia i noveishaia istoriia (4), pp.67-82 DOI: 10.31857/S013038640010325-5

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