The Foreign Office and Finland : Diplomatic Sideshow

ISBN-13: 9780415350037 / Angielski / Twarda / 2004 / 190 str.

Craig Gerrard

Opis

The book looks at the ways in which the Northern Department of the Foreign Office approached matters pertaining to Finland in the years 1938-1940, concentrating on the particular issues of the proposed refortification of the land Islands, Finnish rearmament and aid to Finland during the Winter War with the Soviet Union. At the beginning of this period, the Northern Department officials aimed at giving support to Finland while, at the same time, attempting to create an environment where Finland and the Soviet Union could reach agreement, thus keeping Finland out of the German sphere of influence. Their belief that the security interests of the USSR must be considered when dealing with Finland changed after the Soviet invasion of Finland at the end of November 1939. From this point on, the ability of the Northern Department officials to influence policy towards Finland declined, as the Cabinet became more interested in the situation. Nevertheless, Laurence Collier, the head of the department and his associates, continued to recommend particular forms of action, and their ideas were frequently at odds with what was being decided by government. Their recommendations for military interv

Spis treści

Introduction Chapter 1. 1938: British policy, the Åland Islands and Finnish rearmament Chapter 2. 1939: Attempts to solve the Åland Islands problem Chapter 3. 1939: The problems of rearmament Chapter 4. Britain, the USSR, and the question of Finland Chapter 5. The Aftermath of the Nazi-Soviet Pact: The Northern Department and the deterioration of Finno-Soviet Relations Chapter 6. The debate at Geneva Chapter 7 The Winter War: the first month Chapter 8. The Winter War: The second and third months Chapter 9. The end of the war and the frustration of Collier's hopes Conclusion Bibliography

O autorze

Craig Gerrard