Chapter 1 Part 2: LON

Question 1

To solve international dispute

Answer 1

EX
- To settle international dispute through collective security, ie. when a smaller nation is attacked by a bigger nation, the LON would collectively helped the smaller nation.

• Peacekeeping efforts would include :
  o Condemn the aggressor and disprove of its action. A Commission of Enquiry would be set up.
  o Impose economic sanctions
  o Use military force as a last resort.

A
LON was able to settle :
- a quarrel between Peru and Colombia in 1920.
- restrained Greece from attacking Bulgaria in 1925

LON did try to maintain international peace although it was not very successful in dealing with the bigger nations.
- when Manchuria was occupied by Japan in 1931
- when Italy attacked Abyssinia.

Question 2

To solve social and economic problems

Answer 2

• As not all countries are economically strong, the LON members would combine their efforts to solve social & economic problems as the bigger nations would have more resources.

o Checking international traffic in opium smuggling
o Assisting poor and backward countries in controlling the spread of diseases through international vaccination programmes & help to reduce the number of deaths from such diseases.
o Find homes for political refugees.

Question 3

To disarm the countries

Answer 3

• Disarmament of the countries means the dismantling of the armies and breaking up of weapons, putting oneself in a position where war is not possible.

Question 4

League of Nations was a successful organisation

Answer 4

Social and economic area

Question 5

League of Nations was not a successful organisation

Answer 5

The LON was unable to deal with the bigger nations :

Question 6

Lack of membership

Answer 6

• Not all leading countries were members :

Question 7

Lack of a peace-keeping force

Answer 7

• The LON did not have the power to enforce its decisions because it had no independent army.

Question 8

Slow response time

Answer 8

• There were too few meetings and decisions were made very slowly.

Question 9

Post-war attitudes of major powers

Answer 9

• Major countries in the LON like Britain & France were war-weary. Their countries suffered military losses and economic disruptions due to the bombings and devastation from WW1. They were more keen to rebuild their nations. They were unwilling to impose economic sanctions or military actions against aggressive nations. For example, Italy’s invasion of Abyssinia. Though LON condemned the invasion and imposed economic sanctions, however, the sanctions were not very harsh. Britain and France had secret negotiation with Italy to resolve the conflict. They were also unwilling to take military action against Italy.