How and why did the British government follow a policy of appeasement towards Nazi Germany between
... Ever since Chamberlain muttered those words he has been criticised as the main proponent of appeasement - a policy that to some appears a ridiculous and unjustifiable cowering, by a liberal democratic society, to the threats posed by dictators in other countries. ... Perhaps the key motivation for avoiding war was the sorry state of the British armed forces, whose budgets had been slashed after the First World War to help pay off the large amounts of debt that this conflict had incurred. ... What had accounted for 3% of government expenditure in 1913, by 1933 stood at just over 10%. ... The RAF had few modern aircraft (Spitfires and Hurricanes only arrived as the war broke out), and had no long-range strike capacity to attack targets in Germany. ... It was feared that should Germany launch concerted attacks against Britain, there would be serious losses to life and property as a result. ... The British order of battle was worsened by indecision from the Chiefs of Staff over exactly what resources they would require, and numerous about-turns as to what their objectives actually were. The defence of the Empire would require peace in Europe, which in turn would be achieved through appeasement. British defence policy was thus a gigantic and risky juggling act of preserving all its interests with under strength and overstretched military assets. In a large part, this defence policy was determined by the Treasury. ... Thus the traditional view that has portrayed the Treasury as an obstruction, favouring appeasement and responsible for poor military preparation must be re-examined. ... The economic situation at the time of the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931, involving the decline of sterling, being taken off the Gold Standard, and spiralling unemployment, help to explain why no action was taken. ... There was also a distinct lack of support for another European war, both among the British population and other countries in the Empire. ... Even given the state of the British forces, the notion of Argentinean, Portuguese, or Greek troops defeating Germany was not credible. ... Countries such as South Africa and Canada refused to commit themselves to fighting Germany simply on the grounds that Hitler had entered the Sudetenland - intervention against this was seen by these countries as "preventing certain Germans rejoining their Fatherland.