6 How far did weaknesses in the League's organisation make failure inevitable? Flashcards
How could the Assembly and the Council have been far more effective in their operations and influence
They would have been more effective in their operations and influence if they had represented all the major countries of the world
What did President Wilson call an assembly of nations for and was there any change to the problem?
he called a general assembly of nations to address the problem that the League did not have a representative from every major country around the world. The League of Nations was never in a suitable position.
Why did America never join the League?
As a majority in the American Senate thought that the League would drag their country into future wars and disputes
How did the fact that America not being part of the League of Nations impact the League?
America’s absence was a body blow to the prospects of the League as the new organisation was deprived of the world’s most powerful, influential, and wealthy country
If America were to join the League, how would the League be different?
The ability of the League to take action against aggressive countries would have been increased and the general prestige of the League would be significantly affected
At what point would Germany be allowed to join the League?
Germany would have been able to join the League when it has demonstrated its peaceful intentions
As Germany was not allowed in the League, how was the League seen by everyone?
It was seen as a club for the victorious powers closely associated with the Treaty of Versailles
When was Germany allowed to join the League ? (in terms of years)
1926
Why was Germany’s membership in the League short-lived?
As Adolf Hitler’s first significant foreign policy actions was to take Germany out of the League in 1933
Why was Soviet Russia not allowed to join the League?
For ideological reasons - it was communist and committed to the overthrow of capitalism
Why did Soviet Russia not want to join the League?
As a number of the League’s members, such as Britain, France and Japan, had been actively assisting the counter-revolution during the Russian Civil War (1918-21)
When did Soviet Russia join the League and why?
They joined the League in 1934 as by the late 1920s, there was more tolerance on both sides
When was Soviet Russia expelled from the League and why?
It was expelled in December 1939 following the invasion of Finland
Why did Japan leave the League?
japan was one of the original members of the League but left in 1933 when it received criticism for invading Manchuria
Why did Italy leave the League?
Italy was also one of the original members of the League but left in 1937 following its invasion of Abyssinia and the imposition of sanctions
Which countries were the only major countries that were members of the League throughout its existence?
Britain and France
Why did the League often take second place in the minds of British and French politicians?
As these two countries, both weakened by the First World War, had to shoulder the responsibility of trying to make the League work. Also, Britain was concerned with trying to maintain its empire while France was primarily concerned with increasing security against Germany
What was the intended way in which the League was to maintain peace?
Through collective security
What are the three stages that could be followed to stop an aggressive power?
1) Moral Disapproval:
- the Council would meet and vote to condemn the action
- the aggressive country, knowing that it has the weight of the world’s opinion directed against it, might drop its aggressive action
2) Economic Sanctions:
- the Council could impose economic sanctions on the aggressor
- this meant arranging a trade boycott and refusing credit
3) Military Sanctions:
- the Council could impose military sanctions
- this might involve sending an army to assist the victim of the aggression
In what order would the League’s three stages to stop an aggressive power be done?
1) Moral Disapproval
2) Economic Sanctions
3) Military Sanctions
How did the absence of the USA impact the League’s three stages to stop an aggressive power?
The absence of the USA would reduce the effectiveness of both moral disapproval and sanctions
What was the problem with all decisions taken by the Assembly or Council having to be unanimous
This meant that if the Assembly or Council was meeting to vote on aggressive action by a country, it would take just one negative vote, not including the negative vote of the aggressor, for the motion to fail.
What did the League’s lack of an army mean?
That the League did not have the standing forces to call upon if it wished to impose military sanctions
How did the League impose military sanctions without an army?
Member states would be asked to contribute towards a military force.
What was the problem with the League having to ask member states to contribute towards a military force in order to undergo military sanctions?
It would take time and there was no guarantee that an appropriate army could be assembled. The uncertainty created by this serious oversight meant that military sanctions could never be contemplated seriously when a major country was threatening world peace
