Chapter 2: The League of Nations and international relations in 1920s Flashcards
Impacts of WWI?
Social: war casualties, great loss
Economic:
Europe-decline
Soviets-turned to New Economic Policy and recovered some strength
US-economic boom based on speculation
Political impacts:
- Altered territorial map
- Communist Russia
- Political unrest
Problems faced by policy makers after WWI?
- Communist Russia:
Germany close to revolution
Communism shortly took over Hungary - Spanish flu
- Famine
- Supreme Economic Council was created to deal with financial and economic problems.
Problems of the Paris Peace Conference?
- only discussed disarmament and outlines of territorial settlement
- none of defeated powers present
- no authority overlooking peace negotiations–>caused contradictions in treaties
- divisions among great powers
The Armistice–Demands, success and failure of Wilson?
To promote the Fourteen points
Failure: Senate refused to ratify the Treaty of Versailles
Success: self-determination profoundly impact the postwar world powers
The Armistice–Demands, success and failure of Clemenceau?
Revenge & weaken Germany to the most extent
Failure: Germany was not dismembered
Success: Germany was largely weakened
The Armistice–Demands, success and failure of Lloyd George?
To rebuild the balance of power in Europe
Failure: the peace was temporary
Success: balance of power restored: British naval hegemony maintained
The 14 points on Germany and how successful was it?
- punish leniently: put Germany on probation
- yet blockade against Germany by Britain wasn’t immediately lifted
- Wilson failed to make 14 points a consensus for peace negotiations: didn’t overcome imperial rivalry and national interests, public opinion wanted to return to isolationism
Paris peace conference—France primary goal and suggestions?
Revanchism
Primary goal:
- To contain Germany (1.3million deaths, 2.8 million wounded; bad economy due to expensive loans from US)
- Germany still strong compared to France (natural resource, more men power)
- Contain communism
Suggestions:
Germany:
- Maximum disarmament: no army/navy/airforce
- high reparations to cripple Germany’s economy
- independent Rhineland (most Germany industry in Rineland)
Russia:
- set up independent Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia
Paris peace conference—British standpoint and suggestions?
Reconciliation
- Germany no longer a threat to Britain (fleet surrendered, trade rivalry no threat)
- Germany’s colonial empire liquified
- Britain more focused on middle east
Suggestions:
- weaken military, strengthen economy (a prosperous Germany would be a strong bulwark against Russia)
- reparations and the war guilt
Paris peace conference—Italy primary goal and outcomes?
- wanted territory promised in the Treaty of London in 1915
- wanted reparation from Austria-Hungary colonies in former Ottoman and Aegean Islands
–> only got Tyrol - France and Britain regretted
- USA promoted self-determination
- Austria-Hungary collapsed
Paris peace conference—Japan primary goal and outcomes?
- wanted recognition of territorial gains made in war (Shandong question)
- tried to have racial equality clause included in the covenant of the League of Nations–>lift immigration restriction
–> Britain, USA, Portugal, Romania and Belgium didn’t approve racial equality (proposal violated stated interests of dominions, especially Australia)
–> To placate japan, Wilson promised to support Japanese claims on former German possessions in China
War Guilt clause and German reaction?
- German took full responsibility for starting the war–>pretext for harsh terms of the treaty
- Clemenceau insisted Germany pay compensation for damage done to France, USA and Italy had reservations about this
German reaction: - Many Germans thought Austria-Hungary started the war
- Stab-in-the-back myth: German Army betrayed by Jews, revolutionary socialists who fermented strikes
Countries that need to pay reparations in the Treaty of Versailles?
- Austria-Hungary didn’t need to pay due to major economic problems
- Turkey should have paid a small amount, yet was eliminated in Treaty of Lausanne in 1923
- Bulgaria assigned to £100 thousand, only a fraction paid before cancellation in 1932
- Therefore, Germany paid the most, £6.6 million
Unfair to defeated nations as when they signed the treaties, they had no idea how much they had to pay.
Disarmament of Germany?
- Britain & USA: to destroy the tradition of conscription to taproot of militarism
- Allow Germany to maintain peacetime army 100,000
- France general feared this would become strong specialized army but was overruled
- dissolution of air force–>placate France
- Reduction of Navy–>placate Britain
Problems regarding SAAR(saarland)?
- Had been occupied by France during Napoleonic Wars
- France wanted to take it back
- Reason: France needed mines as many were destroyed in France
- Appealed to the principle of self-determination
Problems on Rhineland?
- France wanted to make it independent
- Britain feared it would create area of constant tension and would shift balance of power to France
Compromise: - French occupation gradually reduced over 15 years
- Anglo-American treaty guaranteeing France against German attack
Germany’s Eastern Frontiers
- France suggestion for the frontier regions to go to new Polish state
Reasons: deprive Germany access to the sea; weaken German economic power - Lloyd George opposed it
Reasons: would cause resentment between Germany and Poland; many German-speaking people in the area; Germany turn to Russia - Lloyd George threatened to withdraw from Anglo-American guarantee pact
Compromise: plebiscite for Marienwerder
Free city of Danzig controlled by Leauge
Japan and Shandong question?
- Clash between Japan and USA
- China demanded it back
- USA supported China to minimize Japanese influence in the pacific
- Britain and France supported Japan to protect their influence in China
- USA lost –> turned USA against Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of St. Germain, Trianon and Sevre?
- nationalities in Austria-Hungary declared independence
- Hungary regions to Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia & Romania
- Bulgaria lost territory to Greece, Yugoslavia & Romania
Germany reaction to the Treaty of Versailles?
Assume:
- Given a draft
- US protect their interests because Germany had become a republic in 1918
- Treaty lenient (armistice)
7th June draft given to Germany and forced them to reply within 15 days
“Robber peace“
Criticism:
- Contradictory to 14 points
- Too harsh
- war guilt clause unacceptable
Demands:
- immediate membership of the League
- land have chance to decide whether they want to stay
- neutral commission to examine war guilt
- retain terms of Treaty of Brest-Litovsk as much as possible
Outcome of Germany objections to Treaty of Versailles?
- Treaty triggered political crisis
- Lloyd George persuaded French to allow plebiscite; vague assurance short occupation of Rhineland
Turkey reaction to the Treaty of Versailles?
- Refused treaty
- Settled Russo-Turkish frontiers, moved troops against Greeks, Drove allies out of Constantinople
- Treaty of Lausanne: land ceded, yet sovereignty recognized
USA reaction to the Treaty of Versailles?
- refused to ratify treaty, didn’t join League of Nations
Causes: - Wilson failed to expand US influence in Shandong
- USA returned to isolationism
- Wilson lost to republicans
Impacts: - caused tension between Allies
- Automatically nullified Anglo-American military guarantee
- Britain and France left to carry the treaty
France reaction to the Treaty of Versailles?
- expected harsher settlement imposed on Germany
- foreign policy dominated by fear
- followed Britain in diplomacy, wanted to recreate alliance with US, supported its allies (Poland, Italy) in international conflicts
Britain reaction to the Treaty of Versailles?
- relatively satisfied, largely achieved goal
- treaty too harsh–>more tolerant to Germany’s demand to revise the treaty
- concerned about the threat from communism grow
Russia reaction to the Treaty of Versailles?
- felt increasingly isolated as not invited to attend peace conference
- Britain & France refused to have diplomatic relations with Russia’s Bolshevik
Evaluation of Treaty of Versailles?
- Divided Europe into revise vs preserve
- US didn’t ratify–>Anglo-American guarantee not applied–>France unhappy
- Russia ignored, Italy didn’t get the territory promised
- Historian’s view: too severe to be acceptable in Germany but too lenient to constrain Germany
How justifiable is the treaty of Versailles?
- more lenient than Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
- Loss of German territory justified on grounds of nationality
- democratic negotiation
- war guilt clause; too harsh punishment
- defeated nation had no negotiation
- some territorial changes violated principle of self-determination (e.g. Sudetenland)
Ruhr crisis: why it happened, process and significance?
- Frustrated at Germany not paying reparations, France and Belgium occupied the heavily industrialized Ruhr Valley
- Germany enforced passive resistance and civil disobedience, 130 German civilians killed
=> Germany won the world’s sympathy - France forced to accept Anglo-American agreement to negotiate Dawes Plan
- Ruhr occupation marked the end of the treaty of Versailles: Germany started to revise the treaty
Hyperinflation in Germany?
Due to Allies’ reparation demands, unnerved population created
- Germany used mass printing of bank notes to pay reparations
- French & Belgian troops occupied the Ruhr, asking to pay reparation in goods
- government ordered passive resistance and paid workers for protesting, which required printing of more bank notes
Gustav Stresemann: what did he do
1878-1929
- Calling off passive resistance
- Promising to begin reparations again and persuaded France and Belgium to end occupation of Ruhr by 1925
- Introducing a new currency called the Rentenmark
- Reducing government budget
=> rebuilding public confidence and the credit of government
Corfu Island dispute: cause, response and significance
Cause:
- Border redrawn between Greece and Albania, Italian general Tellini patrolled
- Tellini and some Italian soldiers murdered in 1923
- Mussolini demanded 50 million lira in compensation and execution of those responsible. Greece refused
- Italy invaded Corfu
Response:
- the League of Nations ordered Italy to leave
- Italy refused, demanded Conference of Ambassadors to deal with it
- CoA also ordered Italy to leave, but agreed to Greece compensation
Significance:
- Greatest challenge to the league in 1920s
- revealed the League was powerless against a bigger country threatening a smaller country, and can be ignored and overruled by other international groups
- revealed the League would give preferential treatment to powerful and aggressive members
- led to Geneva Protocol which attempted to make the League fairer
- highlighted when Britain and France didn’t stand united, they showed weakness
The Washington Naval Conference: topic and treaties signed?
- in US to discuss naval reductions and situation in Far East
The Five Power treaty:
- maintain a set ratio of warship tonnage in US, Britain, Japan, France and Italy
The Four Power Treaty:
- No Italy
- replaced Anglo-Japanese alliance
- maintain status quo in pacific: no further territorial expansion, mutual consultation in territorial disputes
The Nine Power Treaty:
- Internationalization of Open-door policy
- each signatory respect territorial integrity of China, and recognized Japan dominance in Manchuria
- China agreed not to discriminate against any country seeking to do business
- the Shantung Treaty: Japan returned control of Shandong to China
Genoa Conference
- planned by Lloyd George
- resolve major economic and politcal issues:
1) lower reparation
2) return to the golden standard
3) inclusion of Germany and Soviet Russia to the international conference - France vetoed concession of reparations
Failure
Rapallo Treaty (1922) and its impact on different parties?
- Germany was diplomatically isolated, while Russia was isolated as it refused to pay debts of Tsarist Russia
- Both renounced all territorial and financial claims against each other
- allowed Germany to train troops in Russian soil
Germany: a diplomatic victory
Russia: reversed plans to organize anti-capitalist revolutions across Europe, and sought peaceful interlude of economic development
Allies: major disappointment=>German-Soviet conspiracy to control Europe
USSR relations with the rest of Europe?
- Bolshevik’s rise to power in 1917 caused alarm in Europe
Russo-German: - both isolated=> Trade Treaty 1921 & Treaty of Rapallo 1922
- Relationship worsen in 1930s due to Nazism (anti-communist)
Russo-French:
- France insecure, thus restored diplomatic relations in 1924
- France made little effort to enhance relations, yet forced to improve after Nazism
Russo-British:
- Diplomatic relations restored in 1921
- Broken in 1927, Britain feared USSR encouraged independence in India
- Restored in 1929 as Labour Party in England became largest in House of Commons, and established permanent diplomatic relations with USSR
- Zinoviev Letter: inciting British communists to subversion=>harmed relationship
The Dawes Plan and reaction to it?
- Germany get loans from America
- Germany had to promise to resume payments
- Small reduction in amount of payments each year
- Didn’t determine the total amount of reparations to be paid
- Allies still wanted to supervise Germany’s national bank
U.S.: recommend
- cultivate future trade partner
- payment supervised by US–>improve influence in world economy
Germany: Reluctant
- put railways and industry under international control
- didn’t change total sum of reparations
Britain: Support
- settled tensions between France and Germany and promoted balance of power
- Backing of USA in extracting reparations
France: Reluctant
- didn’t trust Germany would pay
- forced to accept: only way to get reparations
London conference: purpose and effects
- make full execution of Dawes Plan possible
- Anglo-American friendship–>both wanted to contain France
- French army urged to leave Ruhr–>France suffered major diplomatic defeat
- If reparations unpaid, Britain would appeal the Permanent Court of Justice in the Hague
The Locarno treaties (1925) what is it and its weaknesses?
- seven treaties negotiated among Allies
- settled western borders of France and Germany
- eastern borders of Germany with Poland remained open for revision
- the Principle treaty: the Rhineland Pact
The Young Plan: content and effectiveness?
- reduced total amount of reparations
- another loan floated on foreign markets
- supervision of German financial system would cease
- the last of the occupying troops would leave German soil
–> the Great Depression doomed the Young Plan
–> Adolf Hitler repudiated all important responsibilities
The Kellogg-Briand Pact and its impacts?
- French minister proposed peace pact as a bilateral agreement between France and US to outlaw war between them
- US secretary suggested two nations take the lead in inviting all nations to join them in outlawing war
—> a catalyst for Young Plan
—> a stepping stone of a more activist American policy
—> give US moral basis on which it could intervene in world affairs
—> no immediate contribution to international peace
—> no clear definition of “self-defense”–>erased legal distinction between war and peace
—> countries began to wage wars without declaring them
- Japanese invasion of Manchuria; Italian invasion of Abyssinia; Spanish civil war; Soviet invasion of Finland
The Great Depression?
- Wall Street Crash: shares in hundreds of business become worthless
- worst economic downturn in history of industrialized world
- overproduction & deflation–> unemployment
- caused by insufficient demands
League of Nations aims?
- Preventing Future War
disarmament; abolishing secret diplomacy; collective security - Administering post-war settlements
arranging plebiscites; organizing mandates - Promoting international cooperation
improve working conditions and wage levels; repatriating prisoners of war and refugees
loans to new countries; development of education; promoting development in public health
