From Villain to Partner: British Labour Party Leaders,France and International Policy During the Phoney War,1939-40

Abstract

For much of the interwar period, the Labour Party's international policy had been characterized by a profound dislike and distrust of France. During the Phoney War, however, Labour policy towards France underwent a transformation, and by early 1940 Labour leaders openly advocated the establishment of a permanent Anglo-French alliance. This transformation merits study for it had important implications for Labour's international policy in general, and the issue of alliances and the postwar organization of European security in particular. These implications, moreover, cast doubt on the usefulness of terms such as `realistic' or `idealistic' that are frequently used to describe Labour's international policy.