2.4 Success of LoN in 1920s Flashcards
What was WW1 known as?
The ‘Great War’
It was the first large-scale conflict between industrialized nations.
What unprecedented aspect did WW1 have regarding casualties?
Civilian deaths matched military personnel deaths
What was the main determination after WW1?
That such a catastrophe would never happen again
What was created in 1915 to prevent future wars?
The League to Enforce Peace (LEP)
Where was the League to Enforce Peace established?
New York
Who were some notable citizens behind the creation of the LEP?
- William Taft
- Other notable citizens
What was proposed at the LEP conference in Philadelphia in 1915?
An international agreement among participating nations to use economic and military power together against any member nation that goes to war
Which British society was formed in 1915 related to peace?
British League of Nations Society
Who submitted a memorandum to the British government advocating for an international organization?
Lord Robert Cecil
What was Jan Smuts’s contribution to the League of Nations in 1918?
Published a Treatise titled ‘The League of Nations: A Practical Suggestion’
Who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1919 for work with the League of Nations?
Wilson
What was one of the key roles of the League of Nations?
To prevent future wars
What were the three main aims of the League of Nations Covenant?
- Preventing future wars
- Administering post-war peace settlements
- Promoting international cooperation
Fill in the blank: Article 8 of the League of Nations Covenant states that members recognize the need for the reduction of national armaments to the _______.
lowest point consistent with national safety
What did Article 18 of the League of Nations Covenant require?
Any future treaty entered into by a member state to be registered and published by the League
What was the main function of the League of Nations Council?
To settle political disputes between nations
How many permanent members were there in the League of Nations Council initially?
4 original permanent members
Which countries were the original permanent members of the League of Nations Council?
- Britain
- France
- Italy
- Japan
What was the role of the Secretariat in the League of Nations?
Carried out day-to-day work of the League
What type of disputes did the Permanent Court of International Justice address?
Legal disputes between states
List some of the main commissions established by the League of Nations.
- Mandates
- Disarmament
- Refugees
- Slavery
What was one of the notable successes of the League of Nations in the 1920s?
Facilitated repatriation of ~400,000 POWs
What was the League of Nations’ approach to collective security?
Members would take economic and military action together against countries threatening peace
What was the League’s decision regarding the Teschen region in 1920?
Split the region between Poland and Czechoslovakia
What was the outcome of the Aland Islands dispute in 1921?
Decided the Islands would remain with Finland
What was the League’s decision in the Upper Silesia dispute in 1921?
The region should be divided between Germany and Poland
What did the League decide regarding the Memel region in 1923?
Area around the port belonged to the League, Memel itself would remain ‘international zone’
What was the League’s response to the Greece-Bulgaria border dispute in 1925?
Condemned Greece’s invasion and ordered withdrawal
True or False: The League of Nations was always effective in preventing war.
False
What was a major limitation of the League of Nations?
Limited power and challenged authority
What was the League’s stance on the dispute between Poland and Lithuania over Vilna in 1920?
Ordered Poland to remove troops and tried to arrange a plebiscite
What did powerful nations prioritize over the League’s interests?
Their own interests
This was evident in events like the Ruhr invasion and the Corfu incident.
What was the significance of the Vilna dispute in 1920?
It highlighted the League’s inability to enforce decisions.
The dispute involved Poland occupying Vilna, which had a mainly Polish population.
What did the League of Nations order Poland to do regarding Vilna?
Remove troops and arrange a plebiscite
Lithuania requested the plebiscite, which Poland initially agreed to.
What was the outcome of the Vilna dispute?
Poland reinforced troops and annexed the city in 1922.
This defiance of the League’s orders showcased its weaknesses.
Which countries supported Poland’s claim to Vilna?
Britain and France
France wanted to maintain Poland as an ally against Germany.
What was the Treaty of Riga and its consequence?
It was signed in 1921 after Poland invaded Russian territory, granting Poland ~80,000 square km.
The League did not respond due to Russia not being a member.
What triggered the invasion of the Ruhr in 1923?
Germany’s failure to pay war reparations.
Belgium and France invaded the Ruhr, violating the League’s Covenant.
What was the Dawes Plan of 1924?
It led to the withdrawal of French and Belgian troops from the Ruhr.
The League was powerless to prevent the invasion.
What was the Corfu Incident of 1923?
Italy occupied Corfu after blaming Greece for the death of Italian officials.
Greece appealed to the League, which ordered withdrawal, but Mussolini ignored it.
What were the two fundamental weaknesses exposed by the Corfu Incident?
Italy’s membership allowed it to prevent League action and the League’s authority was overruled by the Council of Ambassadors.
This incident highlighted the League’s limitations.
What were the key weaknesses of the League of Nations?
- Limited power
- Limited authority
These weaknesses were evident from the League’s creation related to unpopular treaties.
Which major powers were permanent members of the League in the 1920s?
- Britain
- France
- Italy
- Japan
Germany joined in 1926 and the USSR in 1934; the USA never joined.
Why did the USA refuse to join the League of Nations?
The Senate voted against Wilson’s proposal due to isolationist sentiments.
This refusal hurt the League’s credibility and financial stability.
What was the role of the Council of Ambassadors?
To administer post-war treaties until the League was fully operational.
The Council often took precedence over League decisions.
What was a significant issue with the League’s decision-making process?
The requirement for unanimity slowed down decisions.
This was compounded by the General Assembly only meeting once a year.
Define collective security in the context of the League of Nations.
League members working together to impose economic sanctions or military action.
Article 11 of the Covenant states that any war or threat of war is a concern for the whole League.
What undermined the principle of collective security?
A resolution allowing member states to decide whether to provide troops.
This resolution was passed in 1923.
What was the International Labour Organization (ILO) established for?
To improve working conditions worldwide.
It was created and financed through the League.
What achievement did the ILO accomplish in 1928?
Established a minimum wage ratified by 77 countries.
This contributed to social schemes becoming common in Europe.
What was the role of the International Commission for Refugees?
To help resettle over 500,000 POWs stranded in Russia after WW1.
It introduced the Nansen passport, the first internationally recognized identity card for stateless refugees.
What health issues did the League’s Health Organization address?
- Typhus epidemic in Russia
- Investigated causes of diseases like leprosy
Vaccines for TB, diphtheria, and tetanus were introduced worldwide.
What was the purpose of the Mandates Commission?
To supervise territories taken from Germany and Turkey post-WW1.
It aimed to ensure these territories were well-governed and prepared for independence.
How did the League assist countries facing economic difficulties?
By arranging loans and sending commissioners for advice.
Notably helped Austria and Hungary on the road to recovery.
What were some of the League’s other achievements?
- Addressed exploitation of women and children
- Tackled drug trafficking
- Fought against slavery
The League helped free 200,000 slaves in places like Sierra Leone and Burma.
What happened as a result of the League’s investigation into forced labor in Liberia in 1930?
The president was forced to resign and reforms were insisted upon.
This showed the League’s influence in addressing human rights issues.
Which organizations continued their work after the establishment of the UN?
- ILO
- UNHCR
- WHO
These organizations continued addressing global issues stemming from the League’s initiatives.
