Foreign affairs Ramsay MacDonald

macdonald had long been leading spokesman internationalism in labour movement; @ first verged on pacifism. founded union of democratic control in 1914 promote international socialist aims, overwhelmed war. 1916 book, national defence, revealed own long-term vision peace. although disappointed @ harsh terms of versailles treaty, supported league of nations – 1930 felt internal cohesion of british empire , strong, independent british defence programme might turn out wisest british government policy.

macdonald moved in march 1924 end construction work on singapore military base despite strong opposition admiralty. believed building of base endanger disarmament conference; first sea lord lord beatty considered absence of such base dangerously imperilling british trade , territories east of aden , mean security of british empire in far east being dependent on goodwill of japan.

in june 1924, macdonald convened conference in london of wartime allies , achieved agreement on new plan settling reparations issue , french occupation of ruhr. german delegates joined meeting, , london settlement signed. followed anglo-german commercial treaty. major triumph macdonald conference held in london in july , august 1924 deal implementation of dawes plan. macdonald, accepted popular view of economist john maynard keynes of german reparations impossible pay, pressured french premier Édouard herriot until many concessions made germany.

a british onlooker commented, london conference french man in street 1 long calvary ... saw m. herriot abandoning 1 one cherished possessions of french preponderance on reparations commission, right of sanctions in event of german default, economic occupation of ruhr, french-belgian railroad régie, , finally, military occupation of ruhr within year. macdonald proud of had been achieved, pinnacle of short-lived administration s achievements. in september, made speech league of nations assembly in geneva, main thrust of general european disarmament received great acclaim.

macdonald recognised soviet union , macdonald informed parliament in february 1924 negotiations begin negotiate treaty soviet union. treaty cover anglo-soviet trade , repayment of british bondholders, had lent billions pre-revolutionary russian government , been rejected bolsheviks. there in fact 2 proposed treaties: 1 cover commercial matters, , other cover vague future discussion on problem of bondholders. if treaties signed, british government conclude further treaty , guarantee loan bolsheviks. treaties popular neither conservatives nor liberals, who, in september, criticised loan vehemently negotiation them seemed impossible. however, government s fate determined campbell case , abrogation of prosecuting left-wing newspaper workers weekly inciting servicemen mutiny. conservatives put down censure motion, liberals added amendment. macdonald s cabinet resolved treat both motions matters of confidence. liberal amendment carried, , king granted macdonald dissolution of parliament following day. issues dominated election campaign campbell case , russian treaties combined single issue of bolshevik threat.