Abyssinia, Manchuria, Disarmament and more in-depth Flashcards

1
Q

What did Japan use an excuse to invade Manchuria and when

A

Chinese troops allegedly attacked the South Manchurian Railway which Japan controlled.
September 1931

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Why did Japan want to invade Manchuria (give three reasons)

A

Japan had no raw materials such as iron and coal, all of theirs was imported from China
Most of Japan is covered in high mountains leaving little space for farm land so Japan also relied on China to import food for its growing population
Japan was feeling the effects of the Great Depression so needed an economical boost

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What did China do as soon as they were invaded and what did Japan say in defence

A

China appealed to the LoN
Japan argued that China were in such a state of anarchy that the only way to keep piece was to invade and they were in-fact acting in self-defence

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What was the league’s verdict on the Manchurian crisis and why did it take so long to produce

A

The League’s verdict was that Japan had acted unlawfully and Manchuria should be returned to China
The leagues officials sailed around the world and there was little urgency so the report was released in September 1932 a year on from the first invasion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What did the British elder Statesman Sir Austen Chamberlain say about the LoN when he visited in 1932

A

“The assembly was a dead thing. The council was without confidence in itself”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What did Benes (Cz leader) say about the people in the LoN in 1932

A

“They are too frightened”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What did Japan do after receiving the Leagues’ verdict

A

In February 1933 they announced intentions to invade more of China

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Describe the events in the end of February 1933

A

On the 24th the report concerning Japan was approved by 42 out of 43 of LoN’s members
On the 27th Japan resigned from the LoN
The next week Japan invaded Jehol

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What two responses did the League discuss against Japan and why did they decide against them

A

Economic sanctions - without USA (Japan’s main trading partner) they would be meaningless
Banning arm sales - Countries couldn’t agree on it and also worried about escalating the situation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Why didn’t the Lon attempt to combat the Manchurian crisis with force

A

Britain and France were not willing to risk their navies for a war ‘so far away’ that didn’t directly affect them
Only the US and USSR had the military strength to take on Japan

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Why was Manchuria significant when discussing future disputes

A

It showed how easily the LoN could be bullied and Japan was a clear example for Mussolini and Hitler to follow

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

When did the Disarmament conference begin

A

February 1932

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What resolutions had been made in the Disarmament conference by July 1932

A

Prohibit bombing of civilian populations
Limit artillery size
Limit tonnage of tanks
Prohibit Chemical Warfare

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Why despite seeming promising were the resolutions in the Disarmament conference by July 1932 relatively unsuccessful (give two examples)

A

Nothing showing how the resolutions would be achieved
Bombing of civilians was prohibited yet attempts to abolish planes capable of bombing were futile
Prohibiting chemical warfare was put forward however the proposal to ban the Manufacture of chemical weapons was defeated

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What did Germany want from the Disarmament conference and what did they do in July 1932

A

Germany proposed all countries disarm to its level
The conference failed to agree this so Germany stormed out in July 1932

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

When was agreement reached to treat Germany equally

A

December 1932

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Describe the events of the Disarmament conference in 1933 (5 events)

A

January - Germany rejoined the conference
February - Hitler became chancellor of Germany and began to rearm them secretly
May - Hitler promised not to rearm Ger if in 5 years all countries destroyed their armies
June - Britain drew up an ambitious disarmament plan but it failed
October - Hitler withdrew from the conference

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What was Anglo-German Naval Agreement and when was it signed

A

Signed in June 1935
Allowed Germany to build up its navy to up to 35% of Britain’s even though this violated the ToV and Britain didn’t consult the LoN

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Who is Haile Selassie

A

Abyssinian emperor

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What did Mussolini use as an excuse to prepare his army for invasion

A

In December 1934 there was a dispute between Italian and Abyssinian soldiers at the Wal-Wal oasis (80km inside Abyssinian territory)
Mussolini demanded an apology and began to prepare his army

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

When did Abyssinia appeal to the LON initially

A

December 1934

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What did France, Britain and Italy sign in 1935 and what did it state

A

The Stresa Pact
A formal statement against German rearmament and a commitment to stand unite against Germany

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What was happening between January and October 1935

A

Mussolini was supposedly negotiating with the League to settle the dispute
At the same time he was shipping his vast army to Africa

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Why were Britain and France ‘playing for time’ with the Abyssinian crisis

A

They were desperate to keep good relations with Mussolini who seemed to be the strongest potential ally against Hitler

25
Q

What showed the British publics support for defending Abyssinia

A

A ballot was taken by the LoN union in Britain in 1934-35 which showed the majority of British people supported the use of military force to defend Abyssinia if necessary

26
Q

Who was the British foreign minister in 1935

A

Hoare

27
Q

What did the British foreign minister say in a speech in the assembly of the League in late 1935

A

Made a grand speech about the value of collective security and much talking and negotiating followed

28
Q

When did a committee report on Abyssinia and what was their verdict

A

September 1935
That neither side could be held responsible for the Wal-Wal incident

29
Q

What did the League put forward to Mussolini after their verdict of the Wal-Wal incident and how did Mussolini respond

A

The LoN put forward a plan that would give Mussolini part of Abyssinia
Mussolini rejected it

30
Q

When did Mussolini begin his invasion of Abyssinia and why were they the Abyssinians no match for the Italians

A

October 1935
Mussolini’s army was very modern, equipped with tanks, aeroplanes and poisonous gas too powerful for the Abyssinians

31
Q

What did the LoN do in response to Italy invading Abyssinia

A

The banned arm sales, loans, rubber, tin and metals to Italy
They also banned imports from Italy

32
Q

What key decision involving sanctions on Italy was delayed for over 2 months

A

Banning Oil exports to Italy

33
Q

What two fears did the LoN have about their sanctions

A

It feared the US would not support the sanctions
It also feared that its members economies would be damaged

34
Q

Give an example of a repercussion on Britain of the sanctions on Italy

A

30,000 British coal miners were about to loose their jobs

35
Q

What was the biggest mistake made in sactioning

A

Britain and France did not close the Suez Canal to Italy,

36
Q

Why would have closing the Suez Canal have been so significant and why didn’t Britain and France do it

A

The Canal was the Italians main supply route to Abyssinia
They were afraid that it would have resulted in war with Italy

37
Q

Describe the Hoare-Laval pact and what happened with it

A

Britain and French ministers aimed to secretly give a plan to Mussolini giving him 2/3 of Abyssinia without consulting the LoN or Haile Selassie
However details of plan leaked to the press and Selassie demanded an immediate League debate about it
Hoare and Laval were both sacked

38
Q

Discuss potential Oil sanctions in 1936

A

In Feb 1936 committee concluded banning oil would leave to Italian supply exhausted within 2 months even if US kept supplying
However by this time it was too late
The US disgusted by the indecisiveness and blocked a move supporting the LoN’s sanctions and stepped up exports to Italy

39
Q

Describe the final stages of the Abyssinian invasion (3 details)

A

By May 1936 Italy had taken the capital of Abyssinian, Addis Ababa
On 2nd of May Haile Selassie forced into exile
On 9th of May Mussolini formally annexed entire country

40
Q

What was signed in November 1936

A

Rome-Berlin Axis

41
Q

When did an Italian general get killed

A

On 27th August in Greece
His name was Tellini

42
Q

When did Mussolini occupy Corfu

A

31st of August

43
Q

What was the LoN’s decision on Mussolini’s actions in Corfu and how did he respond

A

In September League concluded it was an act of war however Mussolini refused to accept the decision threatening to leave the LoN

44
Q

Why did the LoN change their ruling on Corfu

A

France were not prepared to tackle a dispute with Italy due to events in the Ruhr and Britain wouldn’t act without France

45
Q

How wwas Greece punished for Corfu

A

Forced to pay compensation to Italy and formally apologise

46
Q

What did the mandates commission do

A

Made of teams of expert advisors
Ruled effectively by Britain and France
Owned all of the mandates of the LoN
Team of experts made sure Britain and France were acting in the peoples interests not theirs

47
Q

What did the refugee committee do

A

400,000 prisoner of war returned home after WWI
Refugee crisis in Turkey in 1922 and LoN stamped out cholera and other diseases in the camps
However they had a large lack of funding
The most pressing issues to help refugees who fled area of conflict were in former Russian territories

48
Q

What did Slavery commission do

A

Worked to abolish slavery around the world
Tried to help those technically slaves but not officially
Helped free 200,000 slaves from Sierra-Leone
Dropped death rate in Tanganyika railway from 50% to 4%

49
Q

What did the Health committee do

A

Brought experts together and worked with charities
Sponsored research into infectious disease in England and Singapore
These institutes developed vaccines for malaria
Also collected stats about health issues

50
Q

Describe work of the International Labour Organisation

A

Brought together employers, governments and worker representatives
Main aim was to improve working conditions
Banned poisonous white lead from paint
Could only recommend action

51
Q

Describe work of Secretariat

A

Was a civil service to the other bodies of the League
Based in League headquarters in Geneva
Kept records on the LoN
Played a key role in bringing together experts from different fields

52
Q

Describe work of Permanent court of international justice

A

Based in the Hague in the Netherlands
Aimed to play a key role in stopping disputes
Court included a judge from every nation
Couldn’t enforce their decisions however

53
Q

What was agreed in the Washington Conference

A

1921
USA, BR, FR and JP agreed to limit the size of their navies

54
Q

What was agreed in the Rapallo Treaty

A

1922
The USSR and Germany re-established diplomatic relations

55
Q

What was agreed in the Dawes Plan

A

1924
USA lent money to Germany to help it pay reparations

56
Q

What was agreed in the Locarno treaty

A

1925
Germany accepted its western borders as set out in ToV paving the way for them to join the LoN

57
Q

What was agreed in Kellogg-Briand pact

A

65 Nations agreed not to use force to settle disputes

58
Q

What was agreed in Young Plan

A

Reduce Germany’s reparation payments