Presented to you through Paradigm Publishing Services
Boydell & Brewer
Book
Licensed
Unlicensed
Requires Authentication
The Foreign Office's War, 1939-41
British Strategic Foreign Policy and the Major Neutral Powers
-
-
Edited by:
Language:
English
Published/Copyright:
2022
About this book
Provides a forceful corrective to the idea that Britain 'stood alone' until the invasion of the Soviet Union and the attack on Pearl Harbor brought about 'the Grand Alliance'.
Based on extensive archival research, the book demonstrates that 1939 to 1941 was a period of intensive diplomatic activity by the British Foreign Office designed to ensure that Britain's potential enemies, especially Soviet Russia, Italy and Japan, remained neutral and that its most desirable potential ally, the United States, remained as friendly as possible until it could be persuaded to join in the conflict. The book highlights the importance of diplomacy towards neutrals for British policy, considers the complexities of the situation, tying together issues such as blockade and the disposition of British forces in various theatres, explores decision making within the British government, examining how the diplomatic considerations of the Foreign Office played into wider debates amongst ministers and senior civil servants, and discusses the various courses towards neutrals, including alternatives, advocated within the Foreign Office. Overall, the book provides a rich, highly nuanced view of British policy in this crucial period.
Based on extensive archival research, the book demonstrates that 1939 to 1941 was a period of intensive diplomatic activity by the British Foreign Office designed to ensure that Britain's potential enemies, especially Soviet Russia, Italy and Japan, remained neutral and that its most desirable potential ally, the United States, remained as friendly as possible until it could be persuaded to join in the conflict. The book highlights the importance of diplomacy towards neutrals for British policy, considers the complexities of the situation, tying together issues such as blockade and the disposition of British forces in various theatres, explores decision making within the British government, examining how the diplomatic considerations of the Foreign Office played into wider debates amongst ministers and senior civil servants, and discusses the various courses towards neutrals, including alternatives, advocated within the Foreign Office. Overall, the book provides a rich, highly nuanced view of British policy in this crucial period.
Author / Editor information
Contributor: Keith Neilson
Keith Neilson, Professor of History at the Royal Military College of Canada, was a prolific and highly-regarded historian of twentieth century military and diplomatic history, writing or editing over ten books.
---
Contributor: T. G. Otte
T.G. Otte is Professor of History at the University of East Anglia and author of nineteen books, including By-elections in British Politics, 1832-1914 (Boydell 2013) and Statesman of Europe: A Life of Sir Edward Grey (Allen Lane, 2020).
Topics
-
Download PDFPublicly Available
Frontmatter
i -
Download PDFPublicly Available
CONTENTS
v -
Download PDFPublicly Available
PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
vii -
Download PDFPublicly Available
ABBREVIATIONS
xi -
Download PDFRequires Authentication UnlicensedLicensed
INTRODUCTION: KEITH NEILSON AND MODERN INTERNATIONAL HISTORY
1 -
Download PDFRequires Authentication UnlicensedLicensed
1 ON THE EVE OF WAR: JANUARY TO SEPTEMBER 1939
23 -
Download PDFRequires Authentication UnlicensedLicensed
2 THE BALTIC, BLOCKADE AND SOVIET RUSSIA: SEPTEMBER 1939–JUNE 1940
83 -
Download PDFRequires Authentication UnlicensedLicensed
3 DEFENDING THE MEDITERRANEAN: ITALY, RUSSIA AND THE BALKANS, SEPTEMBER 1939–JUNE 1940
127 -
Download PDFRequires Authentication UnlicensedLicensed
4 DEFENDING BRITAIN AND THE FAR EAST: THE UNITED STATES, JAPAN AND SOVIET RUSSIA, SEPTEMBER 1939–JUNE 1940
187 -
Download PDFRequires Authentication UnlicensedLicensed
5 ‘NOTHING FOR NOTHING’: FROM THE FALL OF FRANCE TO OPERATION BARBAROSSA: JULY 1940–JUNE 1941
261 -
Download PDFRequires Authentication UnlicensedLicensed
EPILOGUE
293 -
Download PDFRequires Authentication UnlicensedLicensed
APPENDIX I: MEMBERS OF THE AMERICAN, CENTRAL, EASTERN, FAR EASTERN, NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN DEPARTMENTS, 1939–41
297 -
Download PDFRequires Authentication UnlicensedLicensed
APPENDIX II: DRAMATIS PERSONAE
301 -
Download PDFRequires Authentication UnlicensedLicensed
APPENDIX III: KEITH NEILSON, LIST OF PUBLICATIONS
317 -
Download PDFRequires Authentication UnlicensedLicensed
BIBLIOGRAPHY
323 -
Download PDFRequires Authentication UnlicensedLicensed
INDEX
331
Publishing information
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook published on:
June 26, 2024
eBook ISBN:
9781800105515
Original publisher:
Boydell Press
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook ISBN:
9781800105515
Keywords for this book
Foreign Office's War; British strategic foreign policy; neutral powers; diplomatic activity; Soviet Russia; Italy; Japan; United States; conflict; decision making
Audience(s) for this book
For an expert adult audience, including professional development and academic research
