Preface - Acknowledgements - The Danger from Germany and Japan - Confronting the Two-Front Menace - The Ultimate Potential Enemy - Disarmament, Security and Defence Requirements - The Practical Politics of the Far East - Cutting the Coat according to the Cloth - Perspectives - Conclusion - Appendix 1: F.O. Memorandum on the Foreign Policy of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom - Appendix 2: Annual Review for 1933 by the Chiefs of Staff - Appendix 3: Memorandum respecting Anglo-Japanese Relations and the Question of Naval Parity -Appendix 4: Minute by Sir R. Vansittart - Appendix 5: Note by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the Report of the DRC - Appendix 6: Interim Report by Ministerial Committee dealing with Air Defence - Appendix 7: Report by Ministerial Committee on Defence Requirements - List of Principal Characters in Text - Chronology of Main Events - Abbreviations used in Notes - Notes - Bibliography - Index

This book examines the role of Chamberlain and the National Government in responding to the strategic problems created by the emergence of a two-front danger from Germany and Japan. It focuses on the first defence requirements enquiry of 1933-4, when rearmament foundations were laid and foreign policy redefined. It explores the inter-relationship between the different departments of state, and between individuals, in the formulation of policy at a time of crisis, and sheds light on the debate about appeasement.