6 How far did weaknesses in the League's organisation make failure inevitable?

Question 1

How could the Assembly and the Council have been far more effective in their operations and influence

Answer 1

They would have been more effective in their operations and influence if they had represented all the major countries of the world

Question 2

What did President Wilson call an assembly of nations for and was there any change to the problem?

Answer 2

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.

Question 3

Why did America never join the League?

Answer 3

As a majority in the American Senate thought that the League would drag their country into future wars and disputes

Question 4

How did the fact that America not being part of the League of Nations impact the League?

Answer 4

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

Question 5

If America were to join the League, how would the League be different?

Answer 5

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

Question 6

At what point would Germany be allowed to join the League?

Answer 6

Germany would have been able to join the League when it has demonstrated its peaceful intentions

Question 7

As Germany was not allowed in the League, how was the League seen by everyone?

Answer 7

It was seen as a club for the victorious powers closely associated with the Treaty of Versailles

Question 8

When was Germany allowed to join the League ? (in terms of years)

Answer 8

1926

Question 9

Why was Germany’s membership in the League short-lived?

Answer 9

As Adolf Hitler’s first significant foreign policy actions was to take Germany out of the League in 1933

Question 10

Why was Soviet Russia not allowed to join the League?

Answer 10

For ideological reasons - it was communist and committed to the overthrow of capitalism

Question 11

Why did Soviet Russia not want to join the League?

Answer 11

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)

Question 12

When did Soviet Russia join the League and why?

Answer 12

They joined the League in 1934 as by the late 1920s, there was more tolerance on both sides

Question 13

When was Soviet Russia expelled from the League and why?

Answer 13

It was expelled in December 1939 following the invasion of Finland

Question 14

Why did Japan leave the League?

Answer 14

japan was one of the original members of the League but left in 1933 when it received criticism for invading Manchuria

Question 15

Why did Italy leave the League?

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Which countries were the only major countries that were members of the League throughout its existence?

Answer 16

Britain and France

Question 17

Why did the League often take second place in the minds of British and French politicians?

Answer 17

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

Question 18

What was the intended way in which the League was to maintain peace?

Answer 18

Through collective security

Question 19

What are the three stages that could be followed to stop an aggressive power?

Answer 19

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

Question 20

In what order would the League’s three stages to stop an aggressive power be done?

Answer 20

1) Moral Disapproval
2) Economic Sanctions
3) Military Sanctions

Question 21

How did the absence of the USA impact the League’s three stages to stop an aggressive power?

Answer 21

The absence of the USA would reduce the effectiveness of both moral disapproval and sanctions

Question 22

What was the problem with all decisions taken by the Assembly or Council having to be unanimous

Answer 22

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.

Question 23

What did the League’s lack of an army mean?

Answer 23

That the League did not have the standing forces to call upon if it wished to impose military sanctions

Question 24

How did the League impose military sanctions without an army?

Answer 24

Member states would be asked to contribute towards a military force.

Question 25

What was the problem with the League having to ask member states to contribute towards a military force in order to undergo military sanctions?

Answer 25

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