History - League of Nations Flashcards
0
Q
How many members did it initially hold?
A
42
1
Q
How long did the LON last?
A
26 years - 1919-1945
2
Q
How many members did the LON have by the 1930’s
A
59
3
Q
What were the 4 main aims?
A
- To keep peace by collective security. - if a country is attacked, all other members of the league must work together to attack and defeat the aggressor.
- To encourage disarmament. - Reduce the military capabilities of countries.
- To encourage countries to co-operate with each other. - Through trade, and economic prosperity (everyone has enough money so no war)
- To improve living and working conditions worldwide. - Create a better world, especially for the WW1 refugees.
4
Q
What were the 3 ways to settle disputes?
A
- Moral condemnation - warning
- Economic sanctions - all LON countries stop trade and contact with the Aggressor country
- Military - Army sent in to attack, troops from every country
5
Q
What was the job of the secretariat?
A
They kept records of all the meetings and prepared reports.
6
Q
What did the assembly do?
A
They recommended ideas to the council. Could also vote on admitting more new member, as well as temporary members to the council and they controlled the budget of the league.
7
Q
How often did the assembly meet?
A
Once a year
8
Q
How often did the council meet?
A
5 times a year, and in emergancies
9
Q
What did the council do?
A
They settled disputes through the 3 type of sanctions.
10
Q
Who were the 4 permanent members?
A
Japan, Italy, France and Britain. Each had a vito power.
11
Q
Who else was part of the council?
A
Between 4-9 temporary members, set for a 3 year trial
12
Q
What did the international court of justice do?
A
Helped to settle small disputes and provided legal support to the council and assembly
13
Q
What were the other smaller agencies?
A
Slavery - worked to abolish slavery
Heath- helped tackle disease and improve sanitation
Refugee committee - helped return WW1 refugees home
14
Q
What were the LON’s weaknesses?
A
- the council (especially the 4 permanent members) had lots of power, making them aggressive from power
- Actions were slow as decisions had to be unanimous, so in emergencies, relief and help could take up to years.
- They didn’t have their own army, so had to borrow from countries in the league. Wasn’t fair as the larger countries had to give more troops, and they often refused because they needed the troops for their country
- America was not part of the LON, meaning sanctions, especially economic, were not as effective as countries could trade with the U.S. They also missed out on the U.S. Army and supplies
- economic sanctions were not liked, as it would sometimes mean a country in the LON would have to stop trade with their main partner, hindering the country.
15
Q
Why didn’t the U.S. join the league?
A
- many immigrants in the US were german, who obviously hated the TOV and refused to have anything to do with it
- the economic cost to the U.S. Would be huge as as they were financially well off, so would have to help solve every international dispute
- the U.S. Would have to send many troops as they had a strong and large army, so instead of fighting their own battles they would also have to fight everyone else’s for them. They would rather stay out of disputes and not get involved
- many of the U.S. Citizens were anti French/British, and believed that they would be controlled and made to safeguard all the French and british territory
- Elections were coming up, and no one wanted to put forward the idea for risk they wouldn’t win the election, as many of the country disapproved of the LON
16
Q
What were the consequences of America not joining the league?
A
- weaker military
- lost a lot of the ‘fear factor’ that they would have had if America were involved
- all the other countries were weaker than the U.S. So they would’ve been able to defeat any country and stop conflict
- many countries in the league felt betrayed as they were told that the U.S. Would be in it - sometimes the reason they signed up
- economic sanctions had less effect cause aggressor could trade with the U.S.
17
Q
What was the good work of the league in the 1920’s, excluding solving disputes?
A
- Sent 400,000 refugees home
- Worked hard to irradiate smallpox and cholera from refugee camps
- Banned poisonous white lead
- Limited child work hours
- Reduced working week to 48 hours and an 8hr day max
- Worked hard to get rid of leprasy, and got rid of many Mosquitos which decreased malaria and yellow fever cases.
- Freed 200,000 slaves in Sierra Leone
- Blacklisted 4 large French,Dutch,German and Swiss drug trad companies
- Helped H+S in Tanganyika railway construction in Africa, brought death rate from 50% to 4%
18
Q
What were the resolved border disputes in the 1920’s?
A
Upper Silesia - 1921
Aaland Islands - 1921
19
Q
What were the partially resolved border disputes in the 1920’s?
A
Corfu - 1923
Bulgaria - 1925
20
Q
What were the failed border disputes in the 1920’s?
A
Villa - 1920
21
Q
What happened in the dispute for Upper Silesia in 1921?
A
BORDER OF GERMANY AND POLAND
The border contained a mix of nationalities, both who wanted control of upper Silesia. The public took a vote.
What did the league do?
- sent in British and French troops to safeguard the voting tolls
- revealed the votes, result that the majority of the Germans wanted the industrial part, whilst the poles wanted the rural area
Result - the LON split the border accordingly, and shared the water and power supplies evenly
22
Q
What happened in the dispute for Vilna in 1920?
A
BORDER OF POLAND AND LITHUANIA
- Capital of Lithuania was Vilna
- polish army seized it one day
WHAT DID THE LEAGUE DO
- protested to Poland, but Poland would withdraw
- were going to send french and british troops, but French didn’t want to get on the bad side of potential german allies and Britain wouldn’t walk alone
- Poland kept Vilna
23
Q
What happened in the border dispute for the Aaland Islands in 1921?
A
FINLAND AND SWEDEN WANTED TO CONTROL
- were threating to fight each other
- asked the league for help
WHAT DID THE LEAGUE DO?
- reviewed situation, decided to give to Finland
- Sweden retreated, war avoided
24
What happened in the border dispute for Corfu 1923
BORDER OF GREECE AND ALBANIA
- General Tellini was appointed to survey the Greek side of Corfu. He and his team were ambushed and murdered
- Italian Leader Mussolini invaded Corfu on the 31st of August, killing 15 people
WHAT DID THE LEAGUE DO?
- 7th September they condemned Mussolini's actions, suggested Greece get paid compensation for the deaths but the league hold the money until the murderers are caught
- Italy public ally agreed, but went behind the LON and got the money paid directly to them, and pulled out of Corfu victorious
25
What happened at the Border dispute of Bulgaria in 1925?
BORDER OF GREECE AND BULGARIA
- GREECE invaded Bulgaria, after Greek soldiers killed at the border
- Bulgaria appealed to the LON for help
What did the league do?
-Ordered GREECE to pull out and pay reparations, they did, but complained with special treatment and double standards with the perminant members such as Italy
26
What did the Locarno treaties state?
1. Germany accepted the French/Belgium borders, Britain and Italy promised to protect France if Germany attacked
2. Germany agreed that the Rhinelands could become demilitarised
3. France and Germany agreed to settle any further disputes through the league
27
What was in the Kellogg-Briand pact?
| HINT: About defences and armies
1. All countries could only use armies for self defence
| 2. Any disputes must be taken up with the League, to remain peaceful.
28
How effective was the League at enforcing disarmament in the 1920's?
1921- Japan, Italy, France, Britain agree to limit Navy
1923- LON attempt a disarmament treaty, France accept but Britain don't because they do not want to be dependant on others
1926: No country wants to disarm first as they would be left defenceless
29
How did the Great Depression make the work of the LON more difficult?
- Countries (Germany, Italy, Japan) became more aggressive
- Countries became less likely to support economically
- Permanent members were less likely to act
30
How were countries more aggressive after the Great Depression?
Germany- the nazi party were elected as they promised to solve the economic and social problems. Hitler made plans to overthrow the TOV, so to do so had to use violence, to regain land and fight other countries.
Italy- Tried to create an overseas empire to support and protect themselves, meaning they had to invade countries.
Japan- The depression meant that Japan's main trade partner America would not buy the silk from Japan, one of Japan's main exports. This threatened Japan economically, and because of this they invaded China as China had everything Japan needed
31
Why were countries less likely to support after the Great Depression?
Because all countries were economically hindered by the Great Depression, so didn't want to give away money when they needed to fix their economies.
32
Why were the permanent members less likely to act after the Great Depression?
FRANCE- Worried about situation with the Nazis in Germany, were preoccupied building there defences, making them less likely to attack others as they wanted to defend themselves
BRITAIN- Britain suffering major unemployment, and didn't want to get involved in international disputes whilst the country was suffering. They also wouldn't act without France.
33
What happened in the Japanese invasion of Manchuria??
BACKGROUND INFO
The USA stopped buying silk from Japan, one of Japan's main exports, due to the effects of the Great Depression.
This caused unemployment and starvation in Japan, and an economic slump.
The Japanese government was taken over by the Army
JAPAN AND MUKDEN
Manchuria in China had raw materials and farmland that Japan needed and wanted. China were weak
Japan owned a Railway in Manchuria, and had an army based there to protect it.
They blew up their own railway in 1931, and passed it off as a Chinese act of terror
They then increased their army as a move of 'self defence', and put a Chinese leader in charge of Manchuria (who acted like a puppet for Japan)
LEAGUE OF NATIONS.
China appeals to the league, but Japan act innocent m stating that the increase in arms was just a self defence enforcement
LON sailed to Manchuria to assess the situation, and only one year later did they decide that Manchuria was to be returned to China, as Japan acted unlawfully.
By Feb 1933, Japan had not withdrawn, and stated they would continue to invade China, and argued this was necessary as an act of self defence.
When the league voted, it was 42 for and only 1 (Japan) against. Japan became insulted and left the league and invaded Jehol
34
What was the result of the Japanese Invasion of Manchuria?
- The LON were proved powerless against a big and powerful country like Japan, as they were slow to make decisions, which ended with costly affects.
- Economic sanctions became less effective, as countries could trade with both Japan and USA.
- The LON was now powerless without Japan and the USA
- Britain and France now refused to use their armies
35
Why did the League fail? (HINT: FAILURE)
```
F: French and British self interest
A: Absent powers (USSR, U.S., Japan {later})
I: Ineffective Sanctions
L: Lack of Armed Forces
U: Unfair Treaty
RE: Reaching Decisions too slowly
```
36
What happened in the Italian invasion of Manchuria?
BACKGROUND INFO
Italy controlled Eritrea and Somaliland, either side of Abyssinia (now known as Ethiopia)
Abyssinia had great farmland, and many minerals.
In December 1934, there was a dispute between Abyssinia and Italy at WalWal. Mussolini wanted to invade previously, and this was a good excuse to. Mussolini demanded an apology, and Haile Selassie who knew what was coming, appealed to the league.
PHASE ONE. JANUARY 1935 - OCTOBER 1935
- Whilst Italy was negotiating with the League, Mussolini was sneaking in his troops to Africa, preparing for s full scale invasion
- BRITAIN and France didn't want to upset him so played for time as he seems to be the strongest ally against Hitler
- Italy France and Britain signed the Stresa Pact, uniting against Germany
- September 4th, LON agreed no one was to blame, and offered Mussolini part of Abyssinia as compensation. He refused.
PHASE TWO. OCTOBER 1935 - MAY 1936
- Mussolini readied himself with tanks, planes and gas, whilst Abyssinia had nothing.
- LON banned trade and arms sale to Italy, and armed Abyssinia
- The Suez Canal (owned by France and Britain) was NOT closed Incase Italy wanted to fight Britain and France, even though it was Italy's path to Abyssinia
- Britain and France started plotting to give Mussolini 2/3 of Abyssinia to stop them fighting (directed by Hoare and Laval). Details of this plan were leaked to the French press, Hoare and Laval were accused of blatant treachery against the LON and they were both sacked
- At this point, Italy had most of Abyssinia
PHASE THREE. MARCH 7th 1936 - NOVEMBER 1936
- March 7th Hitler marched troops into the Rhine land against the TOV, no one stopped him as the league was weak.
- French were desperate to ally with Italy bc needed protection against hitler, they were willing to give Italy Abyssinia.
- Italy took over completely, exiled Haile Selassie by May 9th
IN NOVEMBER HITLER AND MUSSOLINI SIGNED THE ROME-BERLIN AXIS AGREEMENT, AND NO ONE TOOK THE LEAGUE SERIOUSLY
