British Public Opinion: Pacifism Prevails During 1934-1939
TITLE
‘British public opinion towards war was dominated by pacifism in the period 1934–39’.
ESSAY
The assertion that British public opinion towards war was dominated by pacifism in the period 1934–39 requires a nuanced assessment in light of changing international events and public sentiment. While pacifist sentiments held sway in the early to mid-1930s, there were shifts in public opinion as significant events unfolded, ultimately leading to a more complex and multifaceted response by the late 1930s.
At the outset of the 1930s, British public opinion was indeed characterized by a strong aversion to war and rearmament. The League of Nations ‘Peace Ballot’ in 1935, which garnered 11 million pledges for the reduction of armaments through international agreements, highlighted widespread pacifist sentiment among the populace. However, this period also saw a growing recognition of the need for collective military sanctions against aggressors, as evidenced by the 58.7% support for such measures among British voters.
The outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 marked a turning point, with many peace-ballotters modifying their views and joining the fight against fascism. This demonstrated a shift in public opinion towards an acceptance that war could sometimes be a legitimate response to aggression and totalitarian regimes. The subsequent events in Czechoslovakia in 1938 further galvanized public opposition to appeasement, particularly following the Munich Agreement.
While initial reactions to Munich were generally favorable, there was a notable backlash against appeasement following Hitler’s actions in taking Bohemia and Moravia. The October 1938 Gallup poll results, showing 86% of the public believing Hitler was lying about his territorial ambitions, underscored a growing skepticism towards appeasement policies. Mass protests and public demonstrations against the government’s handling of the crisis reflected a shift towards a more assertive stance against aggression and in defense of democratic principles.
In conclusion, while pacifism did play a significant role in shaping British public opinion towards war in the mid-1930s, it was not the sole determinant. Public sentiment evolved in response to key events such as the Spanish Civil War and the Munich Agreement, leading to a more nuanced and complex attitude towards conflict and appeasement by the late 1930s. The interplay between pacifist ideals, concerns for national security, and moral principles ultimately influenced public perceptions and responses to the escalating international tensions of the period.
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British public opinion towards war was dominated by pacifism in the period 1934–39. Assess this view. This question requires examination of public opinion, including how far pacifism has such dominated it and how far public opinion changed in the light of international events.
At the beginning of the 1930s, public opinion had been strongly opposed to war and rearmament, although this began to shift by mid-decade. In 1935, 11 million responded to the League of Nations ‘Peace Ballot’ by pledging support for the reduction of armaments by international agreement. On the other hand, the same survey also found that 58.7% of British voters favoured ‘collective military sanctions’ against aggressors, and public reaction to the Hoare-Laval Pact with Mussolini was extremely unfavourable.
Even the left-wing of the pacifist movement quickly began to turn, with the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 and many peace-ballotters began signing up for the international brigades to fight Franco. By the height of the Spanish conflict in 1937, most young pacifists had modified their views to accept that war could be a legitimate response to aggression and fascism.
Czechoslovakia did not concern most people until the middle of September 1938 when they began to object to a small democratic state being bullied. Nevertheless, the initial response of the British public to the Munich agreement was generally favourable. As Chamberlain left for Munich in 1938, the whole House of Commons cheered him on. On 30th September 1938, as he returned to Britain from Munich, the Munich agreement was supported by most of the press. Positive opinion of appeasement was shaped partly by media manipulation. After Munich, there was a reaction against appeasement.
The results of an October 1938 Gallup poll showed 86% of the public believing that Hitler was lying about his future territorial ambitions. Around 15,000 people protested to the prime minister in Trafalgar Square and 10,000 more welcomed him at 10 Downing Street.
The pacifism could be contrasted with public concerns to avoid war where it was unclear that British interests were at stake, and a distinction could be drawn between the mood of the early-1930s and the late-1930s due to the impact of the Spanish Civil War and moral concerns over Munich and Hitler’s actions in taking Bohemia and Moravia.