Border Disputes in the early 1920s Flashcards
Who was arguing over the Aaland Islands?
Sweden and Finland
When was the Aaland Islands disagreement?
1921
What was Aaland Island disagreement about?
Both Sweden and Finland wanted to rule the island and threatened to go to war over it.
What did the League do about the Aaland Island disagreement?
The League investigated and awarded the islands to Finland - a decision Sweden accepted. War was averted.
Who disagreed over Upper Silesia in 1921?
Germany and Poland
How did the League deal with the disagreement in Upper Silesia?
It arranged a plebiscite (vote). It divided the region between Germany and Poland. Both countries accepted the decision.
Where did the Polish take control of in 1920?
Vilna - capital of Lithuania
What did the League do about Vilna?
Nothing (Britain and France weren’t prepared to act). They passed the issue to the Conference of Ambassadors who awarded Vilna to Poland.
What was the Conference of Ambassadors?
A group of senior diplomats from the Allied powers who oversaw matters emerging from the Paris peace treaties. It was established in 1920 but by 1925 had become much less active.
Which two disputes did the Conference of Ambassadors play a role?
Vilna (1920) and Corfu (1923)
In the early 1920s, was the League a success?
With the exception of Vilna, it can generally be regarded as a success. However, Vilna was a harbinger of things to come: when larger nations were involved, Britain and France were reluctant to act.
- In Corfu in 1923, when Italy is involved, Mussolini is allowed to act with impunity.
- However, in Bulgaria in 1925, the League acts, as both Greece and Bulgaria were relatively minor nations.
