Conflicts The Leageu Dealt With Flashcards
What happened in vilna in 1920?
After the First World War many countries were created, including Poland and Lithuania. Vilna was the capital of Lithuania. However in 1920 Poland sent an army and took vilna. When Lithuania protested to the league, France did not want to lose Poland as an ally, and Britain refused to commit troops without over countries having done so first. Therefor the first conflict presented to the league was ignored.
What happens in upper Silesia in the 1920s?
Upper Silesia separated Germany and Poland, and both countries wanted it for its steel and coal production. A plebiscite was held in 1921, which Germany won a majority of. When Poland protested however, the region was split based on how the people voted. Poland gained the industrial land and Germany the rural land. Neither country was thrilled with the outcome, but both accepted it.
What happened between Sweden and Finland in 1921?
There was a conflict over the Aaland islands. Both countries claimed the islands to be their own, and threatened war over it. The league investigated and concluded the islands should be given to Finland, however Finland could not hold any military outposts or bases there, so as to prevent Sweden from being threatened. Both countries accepted these terms and war was avoided.
What happened in 1923 in Corfu?
Italian general Telini was murdered whilst on Greek soil. Italy took its chance, after Greece refused to pay compensation and on the 31st of august, Italy occupied Corfu, costing the lives of 15 people. After Greece appealed the league administered moral condemnation, but agreed Italy should pay compensation.
However Mussolini wasn’t satisfied, and used his power to make Greece pay Italy directly. This showed that a powerful country could still undermine the league, and that the league had corruption within it.
What happened in Bulgaria in 1925?
When Greek soldiers were killed in the Bulgaria border, Greece invaded. Bulgaria appealed and Greece was ordered to withdraw. Greece felt the league hypocritical, as Italy had got away with similar actions in 1923.
However Greece was a small country that could not afford sanctions, so they reluctantly agreed.
How did the league deal with the Wall Street crash?
The Wall Street crash occurred in 1929, and was followed by the Great Depression in the 1930s. America was a huge supplier for business, and when their stock market crashed they Calle din loans and shut down businesses. Thus caused a world wide depression.
The league was utterly powerless. People out of desperation were turning to extremist parties on the left and right, and the league could do nothing. This is often seen as the turning point when the league proved themselves powerless.
How did the Manchuria crisis start?
It started with the Mukden incident, where an explosion took place on the Manchuria railway line. Japan blamed china, who denied involvement. The Kwangtung army then used this as an excuse to attack china. The Mukden incident happened of the 18th September 1931.
What happened in Manchuria after the Mukden incident?
The Japanese army invaded. The Japanese’s government wasn’t happy about this, but as the people were pleased, they went along with the invasion.
In January 1932 Japan took over Shanghai in china. And by February mist of Manchuria is under Japanese control. In 1932 they renamed Manchuria Manchuko, and put in charge a former Chinese empower Pu Yi. He was a puppet ruler, so Japan could control him.
What did the league do about the events in Manchuria?
In September 1931 britain sent lord Lytton to investigate. The Lytton report was produced, but is was produced a whole year after the invasion in October 1932. It concluded what everybody already knew, that Japan was in the wrong. The league issued moral condemnation.
However Japan still doesn’t withdraw. In February 1933 a special meeting is set up and Japan is ordered to withdraw from Manchuria. Japan ignores the league however, and due to the league having no army, nothing was done. Japan then promptly left the league in 1933 that very same month, and proceeded in 1937 to invade Jehol, and basin a full scale invasion of China.
Why was the league reluctant to act in Manchuria?
Due to Japan and china being far away from the leagues headquarters in Geneva Switzerland it was seen as not a threat.
As Japan were a powerful nation the league did not want a big fight, and as Japan said that china had invaded first, many chose to believe Japan as to not get involved.
Also members of the league could not afford to send troops all the way across to China, indeed Britain and France were still facing depression.
