1. The League of Nations and collapse of collective security: Abyssinia, the Spanish Civil War Flashcards
what/when did woodrow Wilson announce?
Jan 1918,
announced plans for peace after war in his ‘fourteen Points Speech’ to American Congress. 14th point called for establishment of ‘LON’
What did Wilson hope to resolve?
resolve international conflict without use of force, arguing that if existed before 1914, then Great War could have been avoided
What did LON comprise of?
an assembly, a council, a secretariat and non-political org
what did WW1 point out?
fundamental flaw in balance of power system
What did victorious states sought to do?
institutionalize system of collective security via League of Nations in which aggression by one state would bring response for all states; collective security would thus be achieved
what is collective security?
based on principle that attack on one is attack on all
what could LON impose?
military force and trade sanctions
although had various successes, what were its inherit flaws which undermined its authority?
- America was never a member
- Britain refused to commit troops to conflicts and was focused on internal problems
members did not always agree - nationalism overshadowed notion of internationalism
- League lacked military force
major conflicts which challenged authority of League and principle of collective security?
Abyssinia, Manchuria, Spanish Civil War. (although some successes) = League’s impotence
what did failure of collective security allow?
allowed dictators to act without fear of retribution
Manchuria crisis: first instance of?
League’s ineffectiveness in international peace keeping + set example that aggressive dictators Mussolini and Hitler were to follow
Manchuria crisis:1931?
Japan invaded Chinese province Manchuria, bombing Shanghai and annexing further provinces
Manchuria crisis: why did Japan invade China?
in attempt to recover from subsequent economic depression
Manchuria crisis: what did China do in response to attack?
appealed to LON under Article 11 to intervene and help them recover Manchuria, but when ordered to withdraw, japan rejected it and instead left LON
Manchuria crisis: was League able to pacify Japan?
no
Manchuria crisis: what role did depression play in response to Japan’s rejection?
because of the depression which was going on at the time, no countries wanted to risk losing Japan as trade partners and so Japan went without being reprimanded
Manchuria crisis: what did this show to Germany and Italy?
Italy that the League was unable to keep its promises of collective security and was unable to enforce any of their policies. (can’t prevent international conflict)
Manchuria crisis: what does Tony Howarth say about it?
“dreadful revelation that the League was powerless in the face of a determined aggressor”
Abyssinia: what did it reveal?
reveal League unable to reprimand countries who disobeyed the League’s law and threatened the collective security of the world
Abyssinia: what led to invasion in 1935-36?
Mussolini’s ambitions for a colonial empire and dominance of the Mediterranean region
Abyssinia: what did Abyssinia do several times throughout 1935 before Italy invaded?
appealed to LON
Abyssinia: what did League attempt to do?
condemn Italy and apply economic sanction
Abyssinia: what did Britain and France wished to do though?
wished to avoid upsetting Mussolini and prevent him from joining Germany
Abyssinia: due to Brit and France what happened to Abyssinia?
As such, League failed to protect Abyssinia, which was defeated and occupied
