ABSTRACT

While Chamberlain tackled European security, China developed into one of his most taxing problems. Britain was involved in China through a long-term trade presence, and a commitment made at the Washington Conference in 1922 to give China control of its own tariffs. This was complicated by the Chinese civil war. As a result, between 1924-29 Britain appeased the Chinese, making concessions to maintain Britain’s vital interests, and, in part, to undermine the Communists. But force was used to protect interests such as Shanghai, while international cooperation was also a key aspect of policy.