ABSTRACT
The Munich crisis exposed the serious military weakness of the western allies, and therefore undermined the effectiveness of Chamberlain’s diplomatic initiative. In Chamberlain’s mind appeasement and rearmament were not incompatible, and appeasement was not a temporary policy to be pursued until, and only until, Britain had rearmed. A sub-committee of the Cabinet came to the conclusion that there would be no value in establishing a compulsory national register unless it was a precursor to compulsory national service. German propaganda was not slow to touch on the disharmony within Britain and between the western allies. The military arguments for and against a large British commitment on land in Europe had long been debated, and even the loss of the Czech divisions had not vitiated the arguments against unlimited liability: increased air-power could neutralize the additional German strength on the French frontier.
