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The price of peace: The New York Peace Conference and Axis Powers’ negotiating positions.
The price of peace: The New York Peace Conference and Axis Powers’ negotiating positions.
Although an uneasy peace had fallen across the world there was still no guarantee that it would last. As the various powers jockeyed and positioned for influence ahead of the New York Peace Talks there was furious discussion about bottom lines, priority positions and other demands. The following is an attempt to construct a brief analysis of the negotiating position, demands and delegations of the various Axis Powers.
Chiang Chingkuo was Kaishek's firstborn, but least favoured son. The negotiations were an opportunity for him to prove himself to his father.
China:
The Republic of China’s main priority was the return of all Chinese territory and sovereignty over the breakaway province of Manchuria. At this point Hainan was still under Entente occupation so the return of these territories were also considered a priority. The Axis also put a high priority on maintaining the “Blood and Iron Line” across Afghanistan, Persia and Turkey. China’s negotiating position was mixed. On one hand she did not have control over the People’s Republic of China but on the other, she did occupy Soviet territory.
Leading the Chinese delegation was Kaishek’s sun Chingkuo. Chingkuo although barely 35 was well qualified for the task a multi-lingual speaker who had studied politics in Moscow, learned to be a fighter pilot in Berlin and went to Harvard as a postgraduate. Chingkuo, after a brief stint in the NRA was appointed as the ambassador to America by Wang during his President-Premiership and was still serving the ambassador to America. Kaishek hoped that the multi-lingual and urbane Chingkuo could charm the American mediators into fighting for the Chinese position.
Bottom lines: Return of Chinese territory. Sovereignty over Manchuria
Secondary priorities: Axis suzerainty over Persia and Afghanistan, recognition of independence for the Republic of India
Low priorities: The return of Formosa, recognition of Chinese rule over Burma, recognition of the Republic of Indochina’s claims over Indochina, recognition of independence for the Republics of Krygstan, Tajikstan and Turkmenistan. Recognition of Afghan annexation of Pashtuni territories of the People’s Republic of India. Other Axis demands.
Italy:
Italy’s main priority was to secure her former territories in Libya and East Africa (Eritrea and Ethiopia) and if possible - to secure Greece. However, she was in a poor negotiating spot, only holding the former Greek islands and a small trip of Greek territory adjacent to Albania.
The Italian delegation was led by Count Ciano who had been appointed to the foreign ministry over Mussolini’s objections. Despite being Mussolini’s son in law, the two had frosty relations due to Ciano’s numerous affairs and his desire to pursue a more neutral foreign policy.
Bottom lines: Return of Italian colonies. Peace
Secondary priorities: Axis suzerainty over Persia and Afghanistan. Recognition of Italian suzerainty over Greece and Albania.
Low priorities: Turning the Mediterranean into an Italian Lake (tm) Other axis demands.
Germany:
Germany’s main priority was to see the return of East Prussia and her conquests legitemized. Although Belgium and Luxemberg had slipped from Germany’s grasp - she still maintained control over the Denmark, Norway and much of the Netherlands. Hitler’s main instruction to head of delegation Ribentropp was to secure the return of East Prussia - even at the expense of bartering liberated Polish territory. The secondary priority for the delegation included maintaining the Blood and Iron Line. The restoration of the borders of her Eastern allies remained a tertiary priority - as did the return of Elsass-Lothringen (but this was not treated as a serious proposition due to the fact that France remained entirely unoccupied by Germany at this point.)
Of the three Axis delegations, Ribentropp was a liability - being regarded as a buffoon.
Bottom lines: Return of East Prussia. Recognition of German hegemony over Denmark, Norway, Netherlands.
Secondary priorities: Axis suzerainty over Persia and Afghanistan.
Low priorities: The return of Polish territory occupied by the Soviets. The return of Romanian territory occupied by the Soviets. The return of Greek territory to Italy occupied by the Soviets.
Next: The Price of Peace - Entente and the Soviet Positions
Although an uneasy peace had fallen across the world there was still no guarantee that it would last. As the various powers jockeyed and positioned for influence ahead of the New York Peace Talks there was furious discussion about bottom lines, priority positions and other demands. The following is an attempt to construct a brief analysis of the negotiating position, demands and delegations of the various Axis Powers.
Chiang Chingkuo was Kaishek's firstborn, but least favoured son. The negotiations were an opportunity for him to prove himself to his father.
China:
The Republic of China’s main priority was the return of all Chinese territory and sovereignty over the breakaway province of Manchuria. At this point Hainan was still under Entente occupation so the return of these territories were also considered a priority. The Axis also put a high priority on maintaining the “Blood and Iron Line” across Afghanistan, Persia and Turkey. China’s negotiating position was mixed. On one hand she did not have control over the People’s Republic of China but on the other, she did occupy Soviet territory.
Leading the Chinese delegation was Kaishek’s sun Chingkuo. Chingkuo although barely 35 was well qualified for the task a multi-lingual speaker who had studied politics in Moscow, learned to be a fighter pilot in Berlin and went to Harvard as a postgraduate. Chingkuo, after a brief stint in the NRA was appointed as the ambassador to America by Wang during his President-Premiership and was still serving the ambassador to America. Kaishek hoped that the multi-lingual and urbane Chingkuo could charm the American mediators into fighting for the Chinese position.
Bottom lines: Return of Chinese territory. Sovereignty over Manchuria
Secondary priorities: Axis suzerainty over Persia and Afghanistan, recognition of independence for the Republic of India
Low priorities: The return of Formosa, recognition of Chinese rule over Burma, recognition of the Republic of Indochina’s claims over Indochina, recognition of independence for the Republics of Krygstan, Tajikstan and Turkmenistan. Recognition of Afghan annexation of Pashtuni territories of the People’s Republic of India. Other Axis demands.
Italy:
Italy’s main priority was to secure her former territories in Libya and East Africa (Eritrea and Ethiopia) and if possible - to secure Greece. However, she was in a poor negotiating spot, only holding the former Greek islands and a small trip of Greek territory adjacent to Albania.
The Italian delegation was led by Count Ciano who had been appointed to the foreign ministry over Mussolini’s objections. Despite being Mussolini’s son in law, the two had frosty relations due to Ciano’s numerous affairs and his desire to pursue a more neutral foreign policy.
Bottom lines: Return of Italian colonies. Peace
Secondary priorities: Axis suzerainty over Persia and Afghanistan. Recognition of Italian suzerainty over Greece and Albania.
Low priorities: Turning the Mediterranean into an Italian Lake (tm) Other axis demands.
Germany:
Germany’s main priority was to see the return of East Prussia and her conquests legitemized. Although Belgium and Luxemberg had slipped from Germany’s grasp - she still maintained control over the Denmark, Norway and much of the Netherlands. Hitler’s main instruction to head of delegation Ribentropp was to secure the return of East Prussia - even at the expense of bartering liberated Polish territory. The secondary priority for the delegation included maintaining the Blood and Iron Line. The restoration of the borders of her Eastern allies remained a tertiary priority - as did the return of Elsass-Lothringen (but this was not treated as a serious proposition due to the fact that France remained entirely unoccupied by Germany at this point.)
Of the three Axis delegations, Ribentropp was a liability - being regarded as a buffoon.
Bottom lines: Return of East Prussia. Recognition of German hegemony over Denmark, Norway, Netherlands.
Secondary priorities: Axis suzerainty over Persia and Afghanistan.
Low priorities: The return of Polish territory occupied by the Soviets. The return of Romanian territory occupied by the Soviets. The return of Greek territory to Italy occupied by the Soviets.
Next: The Price of Peace - Entente and the Soviet Positions
- CCA
- Word Count: 700