History Module 2 - League of Nations Flashcards
Describe the work of the League of Nations in dealing with slavery.
- Established Slavery Commission to monitor and combat slavery.
- Organized international conferences to coordinate abolition efforts.
- Persuaded countries to improve anti-slavery laws.
- Published reports on slavery conditions worldwide.
What was meant by ‘collective security’?
- Security for all member states against aggression.
- Aggressor to face united opposition from League members.
- Principle underpinning League of Nations’ foundation.
- Relied on member states’ commitment to enforce sanctions.
Describe attempts by the League of Nations to encourage disarmament.
- Organized World Disarmament Conference in 1932.
- Aimed for global arms reduction agreements.
- Negotiated Geneva Protocol to prohibit chemical weapons.
- Struggled with enforcement, lacked universal member commitment.
Describe Germany’s relationship with the League of Nations during the period 1920 to 1939.
- Initially excluded from League at its founding in 1920.
- Joined League in 1926, improving international status.
- Germany gained permanent seat on Council.
- Left League in 1933 following disputes over disarmament.
What was the Hoare-Laval Pact of 1935?
- Secret agreement between Britain and France.
- Proposed partitioning Ethiopia after Italian invasion.
- Aimed to appease Mussolini, avoid war.
- Exposed, caused public outrage, never implemented.
Describe the work of the League of Nations in the areas of health and refugees.
- Health Organization combated epidemics, improved sanitation.
- Distributed vaccines, reduced disease spread.
- High Commission for Refugees aided displaced persons.
- Issued Nansen Passports for stateless refugees.
Describe how the Assembly and the Council of the League were meant to work.
- Assembly: main deliberative body, met annually, all members.
- Council: executive body, handled crises, selected members plus permanent.
- Unanimous decisions required for policy, except procedural matters.
- Coordinated actions on peace, disarmament, and global issues.
Describe how the League dealt with the dispute over the Aaland Islands.
- Received appeal from Sweden and Finland over sovereignty.
- Investigated, recommended islands remain with Finland.
- Ensured protection for Swedish-speaking population.
- Prevented potential conflict between Sweden and Finland.
What were the aims of the League?
ACDC:
- Aggression: discourage aggression through collective security
- Cooperations: encourage cooperation in business/trade
- Disarmament: encourage nations to disarm
- Conditions: Improve living/working conditions for all countries
List the disadvantages of Britain and France being the League’s leaders
- Both weakened by WWI
- Neither able to fill the USA’s resource gap
- Trade sanctions only worked if the USA applied them
- Both more focused on self-interests
Describe the Corfu conflict.
- Greek - Italian dispute, 1923
- Italian general killed on Greek side of border
- Mussolini occupies Greek Corfu, 15 people killed
- Greece appeals to LoN, Britain condemns Italy while France supports
- Greece made to apologise & pay reparations, Mussolini withdraws
Describe the Manchurian crisis.
- Japan invaded Manchuria, 1931.
- Claimed self-defense after Mukden Incident.
- League commissioned Lytton Report, condemned invasion.
- Japan left League, kept Manchuria.
Describe the disarmament conference.
- 1932-34
- Germany (led by Hitler) complains only it has disarmed while other countries have not
- Other members do not agree to disarm
- Germany rearms and leaves LoN
Describe the Abyssinian crisis
- Italy invaded Abyssinia (Ethiopia) in 1935.
- League condemned invasion, imposed economic sanctions.
- Sanctions were ineffective, lacked oil embargo.
- Italy annexed Abyssinia, demonstrating League’s weakness.
Describe the work of the League’s International Labour Organisation (ILO).
- Promoted workers’ rights and improved working conditions globally.
- Established minimum labour standards, including work hours and safety.
- Encouraged cooperation between governments, employers, and workers’ groups.
- Aimed to reduce poverty and injustice through social justice.
What were the main aims of the League of Nations when it was set up in 1920?
- Prevent future wars through collective security and disarmament.
- Promote international cooperation and resolve disputes peacefully.
- Improve global welfare, health, and working conditions.
- Encourage respect for treaty obligations and international law.
Describe the work of the League in relation to refugees.
- Established High Commission for Refugees.
- Issued Nansen passports for stateless persons.
- Repatriated and resettled war refugees.
- Provided aid to Russian and Armenian refugees.
Describe the work of the League of Nations in the 1920s in relation to health.
- Established Health Organisation to combat disease globally.
- Coordinated efforts to eradicate leprosy, malaria, and yellow fever.
- Distributed vaccines and improved public health education.
- Standardised pharmaceuticals and medical practices internationally.
Describe events in Vilna in 1920.
- Polish forces seized Vilna, claimed by newly independent Lithuania.
- Lithuania appealed to League of Nations for help.
- League demanded Poland withdraw; Poland refused.
- League took no military action; Poland retained Vilna.
What was the role of the Permanent Court of Justice?
- Settled legal disputes between states.
- Gave advisory opinions on international legal questions.
- Contributed to development of international law.
- Promoted judicial resolution of international conflicts.
What made it difficult for the League of Nations to act quickly?
- Unanimous decisions required, slowing down processes.
- Major powers’ absence weakened authority and efficiency.
- Lack of its own military force.
- Frequent conflicts of interest among member states.
What were the weaknesses of (i) the Assembly and (ii) the Council in carrying out the work of the League of Nations?
- Assembly met only once a year, delaying decision-making.
- Unanimous vote required, leading to gridlock.
- Council lacked representation from all member states.
- Both lacked enforcement powers, weakening effectiveness.
Describe the actions taken by Haile Selassie in an attempt to save his country from Italian conquest.
- Appealed to League of Nations for intervention.
- Delivered impassioned speech at League, denouncing aggression.
- Mobilised Ethiopian forces for resistance.
- Sought international diplomatic and material support.
Describe the work of the League of Nations’ Slavery Commission.
- Investigated slavery practices worldwide.
- Pressured governments to end slavery and slave trade.
- Organised conferences to coordinate international action.
- Published findings to raise global awareness.
Describe the dispute over Corfu in 1923.
- Italian general killed in Greece; Mussolini demanded compensation.
- Italy occupied Corfu as retaliation.
- League forced Greece to pay compensation to Italy.
- Italy withdrew after receiving payment, criticized for aggression.
Describe one failure of the League of Nations in the 1920s.
- Corfu Incident (1923): Italy’s aggressive action against Greece.
- League effectively sided with aggressor, Italy.
- Demanded Greece pay compensation to Italy.
- Undermined League’s principle of collective security.
Describe the League’s response to the invasion of Manchuria.
- Commissioned Lytton Report to investigate the situation.
- Report condemned Japan’s actions but proposed no sanctions.
- Japan rejected findings, left League in 1933.
- League took no effective action to reverse the invasion.
Describe the dispute over the Aaland Islands.
- Islands sought separation from Finland, union with Sweden.
- Finland resisted, claiming sovereignty.
- League of Nations mediated, awarded islands to Finland.
- Guaranteed protection for islanders’ rights, culture.
Describe how the League of Nations dealt with the Greek-Bulgarian crisis of 1925.
- Condemned Greek invasion of Bulgaria.
- Ordered Greek troop withdrawal.
- Demanded Greece pay compensation to Bulgaria.
- Successfully resolved conflict, Greece complied.
Describe the League’s attempts to bring about disarmament.
- Hosted Disarmament Conference in 1932-1934.
- Aimed to limit global weapon quantities.
- Failed due to member states’ lack of commitment.
- Highlighted League’s inability to enforce disarmament.
