Abyssinia, Manchuria, Disarmament and more in-depth Flashcards
What did Japan use an excuse to invade Manchuria and when
Chinese troops allegedly attacked the South Manchurian Railway which Japan controlled.
September 1931
Why did Japan want to invade Manchuria (give three reasons)
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
What did China do as soon as they were invaded and what did Japan say in defence
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
What was the league’s verdict on the Manchurian crisis and why did it take so long to produce
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
What did the British elder Statesman Sir Austen Chamberlain say about the LoN when he visited in 1932
“The assembly was a dead thing. The council was without confidence in itself”
What did Benes (Cz leader) say about the people in the LoN in 1932
“They are too frightened”
What did Japan do after receiving the Leagues’ verdict
In February 1933 they announced intentions to invade more of China
Describe the events in the end of February 1933
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
What two responses did the League discuss against Japan and why did they decide against them
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
Why didn’t the Lon attempt to combat the Manchurian crisis with force
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
Why was Manchuria significant when discussing future disputes
It showed how easily the LoN could be bullied and Japan was a clear example for Mussolini and Hitler to follow
When did the Disarmament conference begin
February 1932
What resolutions had been made in the Disarmament conference by July 1932
Prohibit bombing of civilian populations
Limit artillery size
Limit tonnage of tanks
Prohibit Chemical Warfare
Why despite seeming promising were the resolutions in the Disarmament conference by July 1932 relatively unsuccessful (give two examples)
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
What did Germany want from the Disarmament conference and what did they do in July 1932
Germany proposed all countries disarm to its level
The conference failed to agree this so Germany stormed out in July 1932
When was agreement reached to treat Germany equally
December 1932
Describe the events of the Disarmament conference in 1933 (5 events)
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
What was Anglo-German Naval Agreement and when was it signed
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
Who is Haile Selassie
Abyssinian emperor
What did Mussolini use as an excuse to prepare his army for invasion
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
When did Abyssinia appeal to the LON initially
December 1934
What did France, Britain and Italy sign in 1935 and what did it state
The Stresa Pact
A formal statement against German rearmament and a commitment to stand unite against Germany
What was happening between January and October 1935
Mussolini was supposedly negotiating with the League to settle the dispute
At the same time he was shipping his vast army to Africa
Why were Britain and France ‘playing for time’ with the Abyssinian crisis
They were desperate to keep good relations with Mussolini who seemed to be the strongest potential ally against Hitler
What showed the British publics support for defending Abyssinia
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
Who was the British foreign minister in 1935
Hoare
What did the British foreign minister say in a speech in the assembly of the League in late 1935
Made a grand speech about the value of collective security and much talking and negotiating followed
When did a committee report on Abyssinia and what was their verdict
September 1935
That neither side could be held responsible for the Wal-Wal incident
What did the League put forward to Mussolini after their verdict of the Wal-Wal incident and how did Mussolini respond
The LoN put forward a plan that would give Mussolini part of Abyssinia
Mussolini rejected it
When did Mussolini begin his invasion of Abyssinia and why were they the Abyssinians no match for the Italians
October 1935
Mussolini’s army was very modern, equipped with tanks, aeroplanes and poisonous gas too powerful for the Abyssinians
What did the LoN do in response to Italy invading Abyssinia
The banned arm sales, loans, rubber, tin and metals to Italy
They also banned imports from Italy
What key decision involving sanctions on Italy was delayed for over 2 months
Banning Oil exports to Italy
What two fears did the LoN have about their sanctions
It feared the US would not support the sanctions
It also feared that its members economies would be damaged
Give an example of a repercussion on Britain of the sanctions on Italy
30,000 British coal miners were about to loose their jobs
What was the biggest mistake made in sactioning
Britain and France did not close the Suez Canal to Italy,
Why would have closing the Suez Canal have been so significant and why didn’t Britain and France do it
The Canal was the Italians main supply route to Abyssinia
They were afraid that it would have resulted in war with Italy
Describe the Hoare-Laval pact and what happened with it
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
Discuss potential Oil sanctions in 1936
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
Describe the final stages of the Abyssinian invasion (3 details)
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
What was signed in November 1936
Rome-Berlin Axis
When did an Italian general get killed
On 27th August in Greece
His name was Tellini
When did Mussolini occupy Corfu
31st of August
What was the LoN’s decision on Mussolini’s actions in Corfu and how did he respond
In September League concluded it was an act of war however Mussolini refused to accept the decision threatening to leave the LoN
Why did the LoN change their ruling on Corfu
France were not prepared to tackle a dispute with Italy due to events in the Ruhr and Britain wouldn’t act without France
How wwas Greece punished for Corfu
Forced to pay compensation to Italy and formally apologise
What did the mandates commission do
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
What did the refugee committee do
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
What did Slavery commission do
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%
What did the Health committee do
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
Describe work of the International Labour Organisation
Brought together employers, governments and worker representatives
Main aim was to improve working conditions
Banned poisonous white lead from paint
Could only recommend action
Describe work of Secretariat
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
Describe work of Permanent court of international justice
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
What was agreed in the Washington Conference
1921
USA, BR, FR and JP agreed to limit the size of their navies
What was agreed in the Rapallo Treaty
1922
The USSR and Germany re-established diplomatic relations
What was agreed in the Dawes Plan
1924
USA lent money to Germany to help it pay reparations
What was agreed in the Locarno treaty
1925
Germany accepted its western borders as set out in ToV paving the way for them to join the LoN
What was agreed in Kellogg-Briand pact
65 Nations agreed not to use force to settle disputes
What was agreed in Young Plan
Reduce Germany’s reparation payments
