3.2 League of Nations

Question 1

When and How was the LoN established

Answer 1

By the first 26 articles of the Treaty of Versailles (28 June 1919) - “The Covenant of the League
* Detailed the aims, procedure and structure
* Formally established 10 January 1920

Question 2

Quote critical of the LoN

Answer 2

“The League of Nations proved an almost total failure, except as an institution for collecting statistics”
—Eric Hobsbawn, Age of Extremes (1944)

Question 3

Quote supporting the LoN

Answer 3

“The years 1924 to 1930 was the period of the League’s greatest prestige and authority”
— EH Carr, International Relations between the Two World Wars 1919 - 1939 (1947)

Question 4

Aims of the LoN

Answer 4

To preserve world peace:
* Encourage cooperation
* Stop agression (procedures e.g. arbitration, economic sanctions, militarty intervention)
* Disrmament (to make war impossible)
* Humanitarian work (social conditions e.g. work and health)

Collective security (each member respected the independence of all other nations) is the central mechanism. Article 10: Collective security principle
* Agressors would be discouraged by a collective response, and then military action.

Question 5

Fundamental Flaws

Answer 5

1. Never reflected global balance of power
2. Collective security was undermined by US not joining.
3. Lacked a military force
4. Internationalism was unrealistic
5. No progress in disarament

Question 6

Flaw - balance of power

Answer 6

• US never joined
• USSR 1934-1937
• Germany 1926-33
• Japan left 1933
• Italy left 1937

Question 7

Flaw - internationalism was unrealistic

Answer 7

Rise of dictatorship in Poland, Austria, Italy, Japan, Russia and Germany

Question 8

Failure - Japan’s invasion of Manchuria

Answer 8

Japan invaded resource-rich Manchuria on 18 September 1931 in retaliation for the Mukden Incident (same day).
* Blamed Chinese nationalists for bombing Japanese owned railway → pretext to invade Manchuria (false flag event)
* Declared Manchuria as the new autonomous state of Manchukuo - though under the control of the local Japanese Army.
* Who: Operated by the Kwantung Army without government approval → influence of military, not civilian government.
Actions of the LoN: After a year of deliberation (Commission to investigate) in February 1933 the blame for the conflict in Manchuria was divided equally between Chinese nationalism and Japanese militarism, but would not recognise Manchukuo → violated territorial integrity of China, and therefore the Nine-Power Treaty (1922).
* Ordered withdrawal of forces → Japan left the League of Nations.

Due to important trading links, no sanctions were made and no further action to counter Japan’s expansion. Instead China and Japan signed a truce agreement that left Manchuria firmly under Japan’s influence.

LoN’s lack of real enforcement beyond attempts at diplomacy revealed its lack of power and authority.

Question 9

Failure - Italy invades Abyssinia

Answer 9

When: 3rd October, 1935 - 19th February, 1937
Where: Abyssinia (Ethiopia)
Who: Ordered by Benito Mussolin to salvage Italy’s lost pride from failing to conquer the area in the First Italo-Ethiopian War (only European nation defeated by an African country).
* Would complete Italian domination over the Horn of Africa
* After “mutilated victory” from PPC → return to the status of a great power.
22nd November, 1934 - leaving 150 Abyssinians and 2 Italians dead. The LoN exonerated (cleared of any charges of wrongdoing) Italy, even though Italy was a clear and obvious aggressor → to prevent Italy from becoming an ally of Nazi Germany.
* Sanctions did not include oil