2. League of Nations Flashcards
What did Wilson want the League to be?
A world parliament were representatives met together.
What did British leaders want the League to be?
A Simple organisation that would meet together in emergencies. (this already existed= conference of Ambassadors9
What did France want the League to be?
A strong organisation with its own army.
What reasons did the USA have to not join the League?
- The League enforced the TofV (+Some Americans had German ancestors)
- Did not want to send US soldiers to settle little conflicts.
- Economic sanctions would affect America trade
- GB + FRwould use the League to control their Empires.
What was the process of not joining the League in the USA?
- 1919: Wilson’s democratic party proposes joining and is defeated.
- 1920: Wilson is ill, he brings back the proposal and is defeated.
- In the 1920 election, the Republican candidate Warren Harding won campaigning for America to be isolationist
What did the Covenant say were the main aims of the League?
- Discourage aggression
- Encourage Co-operation (business+trade)
- Encourage Disarmament
- Improve living+working conditions
What did Article 10 of the Covenant of the League mean?
Collective security
League could prevent war by defending the lands and interests of other nations.
Where was the League based?
Geneva, Switzerland
neutral land
Why was the membership of the League weakened?
USA was absent: both GB + FR were weakened from WWI and weren’t the major powers they had once been.
Some British poiticians said that if they knew the American decision, they wouldn’t have entered the League.
How did British and French self-interests towards the League differ?
British: rebuild British trade + looking after the British empire.
France: Germany. Didn’t think Britain would send and army in case of invsion so wanted to strengthen their position against Germany.
How did the Council work?
Met in emergencies. Permanent members (had a veto): Britain, France, Italy, Japan Temporary members: elected each 3 years. Decided which power to use: - moral condemnation - economic sanctions - Military force
How did the Assembly work?
The League’s Parliament - every country was represented.
It recommended action to the Council + could vote on some aspects (like admitting new members)
Met once a year
Decisions had to be unanimous.
How did the Secretariat work?
Kept records of meetings and prepared reports (about health, disarmament…)
How did the Permanent Court of Justice work?
Based at the Hague, Netherlands.
Judges from member countries.
Gave legal advice + could settle a dispute if asked.
The advice was non-binding (had no way of making sure countries followed heir advice)
How did the International Labour Organisation (ILO) work?
Brought together employers, government and workers representatives once a year.
Had the aim of improving working conditions.
Collected statistics+information to try and convince countries.
How did the Mandates Commission work?
Defeated countries’ colonies ended up being mandates of the LoN run by GB or FR.
Expert advisers who reported to the League how the mandates were being treated (ensured they were run well)
It also helped minority groups in the new states created by the TofV. (e.g. Germans in Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia)
How did the Refugees Committee work?
Explorer Fridtjof Nansen was in charge.
It had the aim of helping refugees after WWI. especially those in former Russian territory (Balkans, Greece)
How did the Slavery Commission work?
Worked to abolish slavery worldwide. Specially in East Africa. Also worked to abolish workers being treated like slaves.
How did the Health Committee work?
Worked with other organisations to collect statistics about health, spread new ideas and develop programmes to fight disease.
Delt with dangerous disease and gave Sanittion advice.
Polish-Lithuanian dispute, 1920-29
Poland took control of Vilna, the Lithuanian capital
Lithuania appealed to the League
League protested to Poland
Poles did not move
Upper Silesian Settlement, 1921
Germany wanted to get back Upper Silesia from Poland
League held a plebiscite
League divided the region between the two countries
Both countries accepted
Aaland islands dispute, 1921
Sweden wanted Aaland islands (culture there is mainly swedish+strategic position)
The League claimed it should be a demilitarised, autonomous part of Finland.
Sweden accepted.
Corfu dispute, 1923
Conference of Ambassadors appointed the Italian General Tellini to supervise the border between Greece+Albania.
27 August, Tellini+his team were ambushed and killed.
Mussolini blamed the Greek government
29 August, he demanded Greece to pay compensation and execute the murderers.
31 August, Mussolini bombards+invades Corfu (Greek island)
Greece appealed to the League
7 September, the League held a judgment (following articles 12+15 of Covenant)
The League blamed Mussolini + suggested Greece to pay compensations to the League and the League would hand it to Italy when Tellini’s killers were found.
Council of Ambassadors made the final decision (Commission of GB+FR+IT+JP) Italiand were the only ones to blame the Greeks.
Despite this, the Greeks had to apologise and pay compensation to Italy.
27 September, Mussolini withdrew from Corfu.
How did the British and French disagree about the Corfu dispute?
British were prepared to intervene and force Mussolini out of Corfu while the French completely disagreed and backed the Italians (probably because Fench troops were at the Ruhr)