2 To what extent was the LON a success?

Question 1

Why were some countries not involved in the LON’s membership? [6 marker]

Answer 1

1. Although Wilson wanted to join the Leage, many members of the US Congress opposed the League so the USA never joined. This was because the USA did not want to be involved with international affairs. They instead started a policy of isolationism
2. Germany were forbidden to join the League until 1926. As Germany had started the war, according to the TOV, she could not join the LON until it proved that it could strive for peace

Question 2

What made it difficult for the LON to act quickly? [4 marker]

Answer 2

1. Had no army of its own
2. The USA was not a member
3. Votes had to be unanimous in the Assembly
4. Britain and France had other priorities/interests

Question 3

What were the aims of the LON? [4 marker]

Answer 3

1. To encourage disarmament
2. To encourage countries to co-operate
3. To improve living and working conditions world-wide
4. To discourage agression from any nation

Question 4

Why was the LON weak from the start? [6 marker]

Answer 4

1. The USA did not join. The Americans were the only nation with the resources and influence to make the League work. Furthermore, the League’s sanctions such military and trade sanctions were useless, as the agressor could still trade with the USA
2. Britain and France had other priorities. Britain was focussing on strengthening its Empire, with the help of some colonies gained from the terms of the TOV. France was occupied by the threat of Germany, who they felt had not been weakened enough by the TOV and feared future attack

Question 5

Describe the main features of the organisation and structure of the League of Nations [4 marker]

Answer 5

1. An assembly which met once a year
2. A council which met more often to resolve disputes
3. A secretariat which kept records
4. Agencies to deal with the social and economic issues caused by WWI

Question 6

Describe the dispute over the Aaland Islands, 1921 [4 marker]

Answer 6

1. These were islands in the Baltic Sea which were claimed by both Finland and Sweden
2. Islands were awarded to Finland with safeguards for islanders
3. Sweden accepted the decision
4. success for the LON

Question 7

Describe the dispute over Bulgaria, 1925 [4 marker]

Answer 7

1. Greece was ordered to pay £45,000 in compensation after an incident on the Bulgarian border
2. Greece accepted
3. However, it felt it had been treated unfairly when compared to Italy during the Corfu Incident, 1923
4. Partial success for the LON

Question 8

Describe the dispute over Vilna, 1920 [4 marker]

Answer 8

1. Polish army seized Vilna, capital of newly-established Lithuania
2. League asked the Polish troops to withdraw
3. Polish did not listen and Vilna awarded back to Poland
4. Failure for the LON

Question 9

Describe the dispute over Corfu, 1923 [4 marker]

Answer 9

1. In response to the murder of an Italian officer on the border, Mussolini occupied the Greek Island of Corfu
2. League initially condemned the invasion but then changed their ruling
3. Greece had to pay compensation
4. Failure for the LON

Question 10

Describe the work of the ILO [4 marker]

Answer 10

1. Worked with employers and governments to improve working conditions
2. Banned poisonous white lead from paint
3. Limited hours for child labour
4. Introduced 8-hour day and 48-hour working week

Question 11

Describe the humanitarian work of the League of Nations in the 1920s [4 marker]

Answer 11

1. The International Labour Organisation worked with employers and governments to improve working conditions. For example, it banned poisonous white lead from paint and introduced an 8-hour day and 48-hour working week
2. The Health Organisation worked to educate people about health and sanitation and stop the spread of dangerous diseases. For example, it began an international campaign to exterminate mosquitos, reducing the spread of malaria

Question 12

Why did the Depression lead to problems for the League of Nations? [6 marker]

Answer 12

1. The Depression led to many countries, such as Britain and France, ignoring their resposibilities in the League of Nations. The Depression caused mass unemployment in countries around the world which were linked to the USA as trade declined rapidly. Therefore, leading League members concentrated on solving their own economic problems instead of more actively addressing agressive actions by other great powers, such as Japan and Italy, when they invaded Manchuria and Abyssinia
2. The effects of the Depression were felt especially hard in Germany where unemployment reached nearly 6 million by 1932. As a result, many Germans turned to extremist political parties such as the Nazis and the Communists. In 1933, the Nazi leader, Adolf Hitler, was appointed Chancellor of Germany. He soon started reversing the terms of the TOV, like rearming Germany, which the League was meant to prevent. This made the League look increasingly weak

Question 13

Describe the consequences of the Manchurian crisis [4 marker]

Answer 13

1. League members looked weak and powerless
2. Britain and France looked self-interested
3. Italy and Germany saw the League’s members were not willing to stop powerful nations when they acted agressively
4. Both the USA and USSR had the resources to remove Japan, but neither were members of the League

Question 14

Describe the consequences of the Abyssinian crisis [4 marker]

Answer 14

1. Hoare-Laval Pact made it look as if the League’s leading members were following their own interests
2. Hitler took his chance and launched an invasion of the Rhineland in 1936
3. Mussolini allied himself to form the Rome-Berlin axis
4. Italy left the League in 1937