International Relations 1918-1939 Flashcards
Who were the Big Three at Versailles and what were their motives?
Georges Clemenceau - Prime Minister of France
- Wanted Germany to pay for the war, and hsould be punished for France’s pain and suffering
As they shared a border with Germany, wanted to make sure France was secure from any future threat - Germany had a younger, stronger population, and a better economy even in defeat
Woodrow Wilson - President of the USA
Wanted Germany punished but not so harsh that Germany looks for revenge
Wanted Germany to have equal rights and all countries to work towards disarmament - idealistic views
He had internationalist views, and with these he set up the fourteen points, which give as much freedom as possible to the different countries and suppressed people - open covenants of pease, removal of economic barriers, freedom of the seas
As USA only entered the war in 1917, they didn’t face as harsh consequences and they are generally far removed from Europe, so were nicer to Germans as didn’t experience the harshest realities
David Lloyd George - Prime Minister of Britain
Wanted Germany to have a swift recovery like Wilson, so that it could be economically strong enough to pay compensation for the damage done to Britain, and so that Germany was able to trade with Britain
However, he did not want Germany to keep their ships or colonies as this was a threat to the British Empire and their navy
Self determinations was also a threat - as it could spread to the British Empire
What were the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and how far does this go to show internationalism or nationalism?
War Guilt Clause - Germany had to accept full responsibility for the war. This was not positive internationalism, as the aim was to weaken Germany, and Germany had to suffer - this clause definitely angered them, so much so that some historians say that Hitler rose from out of the ToV.
Compensation - Germany had to pay for all the damage done during the war, and the exact figure (£6,600 milllion + interest) was agreed without consulting Germany - this massively degraded Germany and its economy - the reparations were only paid off in 2010!
Disarmament - Germany was forcefully disarmed (not fully, they were restricted to 6 small battle ships, 6 crusiers and 12 destroyers. The army could be no more than 100,000 men. Conscription was banned, as were tanks and heavy guns)
Rhineland became a demilitarised zone. The Saar land (rich coalmining area) was given to France.
An Anshluss with Austria was forbidden.
These things aimed to prevent Germany from being strong/powerful enough to start any future war. Whilst it initially seems righteous as Germany, along with its allies, was the bad guy, some of the points of the ToV seem like they aim to empower other countries, as well as weaken this one.
Peace - The League of Nations was created. This was probably the closest thing to internationalism that could have happened at the time.
Loss of territory - German colonies were taken away. Alsace Lorraine was returned to France
The Polish corridor was created to give Poland access to the sea.
Weaken Germany, empower allies
What was the League of Nations? What were their main aims, strengths and weaknesses?
A general association of countries working together to keep political independence and territorial integrity, no matter the power of each individual nation.
Main Aims - KEEPP
Keep world peace by discoursing aggression from any nation
Encourage cooperation between countries to boost economic growth
Enhance living and working conditions
Persuade nations to disarm
Peace Treaty of Versailles - to uphold its terms
Strengths
The league had a number of commissions or committees to tackle international problems like helping refugees and improving health
The Court of International Justice helped settle disputes between countries, just like ordinary law where they would listen to both sides and make a decision
Weaknesses
Decisions had to be unanimous, which may have been difficult to come to a decision
The Council met five times a year, and had temporary members, and four permanent members - Britain, France, Italy and Japan. They were the ones with the real power, as any of them could stop any action by the League.
The League began with 42 members, and by 1939 there were over 50. But some powerful countries, like USA, never joined.
How did the League help socially and economically?
The Refugee Committee: helped an estimated 400,000 displaced people because of the war/prisoners of war get back home.
International Labour organisation: campaigned for workers’ rights in all countries, especially for women and children
Declaration of the Rights of the Child - still working today
Health Committee: funding research into deadly diseases like leprosy and malaria. Also successful campaigns against drug trafficking and slavery; responsible for freeing enslaved in Sierra Leone (owned by Britain)
Financial committee: When Austria and Hungary’s economies crashed between 1922-1923, the financial committee of the LON helped with raising loans to help the countries recover
The LON became a meeting place for experts in science, finance, law and rights
How did the League of Nations help solve border disputes in the 1920s?
Problem, response, and judgement on whether it was a success for internationalism
Vilna
In 1920 Poland took control over Lithuania
Lithuania appealed to the LON and the LON protested to Poland but the poles did not give up. France and Britain did not act because Poland was a potential ally against Germany.
Nationalism triumphed, because France and britain did not act against Poland so that Poland would be a good ally: the french and British are still thinking in terms of a potential war rather than try to get rid of any possible war.
Upper Silesia
Problem: In 1921 Germany and Poland argued about who should own Upper Silesia
Response: LON oversaw a peaceful plebiscite (voted) and divided the region between Germany and Poland. Both countries agreed to the decision.
Internationalism triumphed, because both vountries accepted the terms, and the land was split between the 2 countries rather than just 1 taking all the land, especially since Germany was involved.
Aaland Islands
In 1921, both Sweden and Finland claimed the Aaland Islands, and were threatening to go to war.
The LON gave the Aaland Islands to Finland, and Sweden accpeted.
Internationalism triumphed because Sweden accepted the LON’s ruling rather than declaring war: success - LON’s aims are to prevent wars and keep peace.
Corfu
Corfu was one of the borders to be decided after war between Greece and Albania.
Conference of Ambassadors (not LON) appointed Enrico Telleni to supervise the arae, but on 27/08/23, Telleni was ambushed and killed whilst surverying the Greek frontier.
Benito Mussolini was angered at the murder and demanded that Greece pay compnesation to Italy and execut the murderers. When Greece refused BM attacked and occupied the Greek island of Corfu, killing its people.
Greece appealed to LON, who condemned BM but wanted Greece to pay compensation. BM refused to let the matter rest, but Britain and France did not stand together to solve the issue - if they did, BM would have backed out, Britain did not support Ialy but France backed Italy because dealing with Ruhr (in Germany).
27/09, BM got his way and Greece paid reparations, and removed himself from Corfu.
Nationalism won, as the different countries failed to stand together and find a more peaceful solution. Italy got their way in the end, receving full compensation, when they had also killed people.
Bulgaria
October 1925, Greek soldiers were killed on the border with Bulgaria. Greek troops invaded and Bulgaria appealed to LON.
LON demanded that both sides stand down and Greeece withdrew their troops, backed by Britain and France (dealing with Locorno treaties). Greece obeyed but pointed out that greater countries like Italy get what they want but not countries like Greece. Overall, seen as successful.
Internationalism won here, as both countries stood down, no one country took all the blame/good stuff. The main reason why this was so successful was because the LON was united, rather than divided so had much more power.
unity = internationalism.
What were the International agreements of the 1920s?
Washington Conference and Disarmament 1920s (1921,1923,1926)
Aim was for every country to disarm
Every country involved, but mainly Britain, USA, France, Japan
In 1921, BUFJ agreed to limit the size of their navies
1923 - first attempt accepted by all countries except UK
1926-1933 - rejected by Germany
The League’s role was to make sure disarmament happened
Hindered the League’s work: Germany had been forced to disarm but nobody else had.
Rapallo Treaty 1922
Aim to re-establish relations between USSR and Germany
League was not involved
Dawes Plan 1924
Aim to avert economic crisis in Germany
Germany, USA
USA lent money to Germany so that it could honour reparations - propped up Germany economy and restored prosperity to the country
LON was not involved
Locarno Treaties October 1925
Aim - to establish border settlement
Germany, Britain, Italy, Belgium, Poland and Czechoslovakia were involved - met in Switzerland
Germany finally accepted the borders with France and Belgium, upholding the Treaty of Versailles; Rhineland became demilitarised, France and Germany agreed to settle any future disputes through the LON
The League was involved (in forcing Germany) but did not lead
Helped the League’s work: Germany joined the LON and had shown more goodwill to France than ever before, but Czechs and Poles still on edge because nothing was said about Germany’s eastern borders.
Kellog-Briand Pact 1928
Agreement between 65 nations not to use force to settle disputes.
The parties condemn war as a means of solving international disputes, sought by peaceful terms, armies for self-defence
LON wasn’t involved as they didn’t lead the pact, but countries in the LON were.
Helped - seen as a turning point in History, 1928 was much safer than 1920, however did not help LON with disarmament.
Young plan 1929
Reduced the total amount of German reparations, to avert Germany’s economic crisis.
LON were involved, but so was USA.
In the end, didn’t really help because of Wall Street Crash.
To what extent was the Manchurian crisis a failure for the League of Nations?
Background:
The Great Depression hit Japan hard, and rural areas were hit with hardship and even famine. Japan was also unable to sell its products due to tarriffs imposed by China and USA to solve their own economic problems. People began to blame the government and supprot more hard-line nationalist politicians, who were in league with military commanders. These men believed it was best to build up a strong military and capture territories for raw materials for their goods. Japan essentially became a military dictatorship (a coountry run by the army).
Japan invaded Manchuria 1931. The Japanese army controlled the South Manchurian Railway, and claiming that the Chinese trooops had invaded this, they used it as a nxcuse to set up their own government in Manchuria. China appealed to the LON.
The League took a cautious appraoch because of how powerful Japan was as a member. It took a year (finished in 1932), for league officials to make a report, which eventually explained that Japan had acted unlawfully against China and Manchuria.
But instead of withdrawing, Japan stated that they wanted to invade more of China in Feb 1933. They claimed that China was politically unstable and that the invasion was necessary.
In late Feb 1933, the report was approved but all the members of the LON, with only Japan against it. Japan resigned and invaded Chinese province of Jehol.
The League discussed economic sanctions, but without the help of the USA, Japan’s main trading partner, they weren’t able to do any real damage. The LON discussed banning arm sales in Japan, but the members, especially those of Britain and France, didn’t want to risk a war with Japan. Only the USA and USSR had the resources to remove the Japanes from Manchuria by force, and they weren’t even members of the league.
Consequences
Several excuses were offered for the league’s failure: Japan was so far away; it was a special case etc. etc.
Basically, just showed how the League had no power over powerful and strong nations that decided to pursue an aggressive policy. Hitler and Mussolini looked on with interest. They would both follow Japan’s example soon.
Describe the events and reasons behind the Wall Street Crash.
1920s called the “Roaring 20s”. Farming was prosperous, sock market - framing reached a new plateau of prosperity.
However, unemployment was rising, revenues falling, farms failing, but delirious optimism remained.
August 1929 was highest point.
Excess speculation: wall street economy
September: fear spread - crash is coming, permanently high plataeu
Wednesday Oct 3rd 1929, stocks slowly going down, people taking out shares nest day, 10 billion in stocks wiped out in 2 hours.
Bankers said that they would pump millions into bank - on Friday, withdrew funds (which appeared to be stable)
Tuesday: Balck Tesday, teh fall
Stock prices collapsed, desperate brokers fought
16 million shares exchanged that day - not bested until 1969
Lost 14 billion dollars in value - more than US spent in WW1
belief that everyone could be rish - people lost everything.
Oct 30th 1929, effects would be “temporary”
What was the impact of the Depression on USA and world trade?
It took a decade and 1/2 to recover
people lost everything - some borrowed up to 90% of shares from bank
Giddiness of 1920s, depression of 1930s
1929 Great Wall Street Market Carsh
Turn away from helping other countries in Europe, dicators thrived on impact of crash
Mass unemployment, nationalism - people needed to help themselves first
Protectionism- some countries, like B,F, and USA, tried to protect their own industries by introducing tariffs to limit or stop imports. However, their trading partners did the same thing so trade worsened.
Rearmament - many countries, incl. G, I, J and B, began process of rearmament as a way of boosting industry and finding jobs for unemployed. More countries did the same out of fear of being weak.
Describe a flow chart diagram of the rise and fall of american loans.
Europe’s economy is in ruins
US banks help Europe recover
Financial aid to new states in central and easter Europe, incl. Poland and Czechoslovakia
!929: Depression hit USA - ran out of money
America calling loans back in - Britain and France suffered, Unemployment rocketed, Germany and others sufered more!
Britain and France refused to lend others money, and instead imposed tariffs.
Germany felt betrayed, leading to Nazism, Hitler, WWII, and the holocaust.
Who were the main 3 dicatators in the 1920s and 30s, how did they come to power and what were their aims and beliefs?
Germany - Dictator: Adolf Hitler, Nazi Leader since 1933
End of 1929 - Germany’s economy had collapsed, unemployment sky-rocketed, and many Germans believed that the government had let them down, so they looked to more extreme, radical political parties, NAZIS.
Aims and beliefs:
Aggressive political nationalism - German people before anyone/anything else
Big rearmament programme
Extensive state control of industry and investemnt, getting rid of ToV
Reclaiming land and carving out lebenstraum
Destroy communism in Germany, and anywhere else - radical solutions
USSR - Dictator: Josef Stalin, supreme leader of communism, since 1929
WWI caused revolution in Russia that brought communists to power, Stalin succeeded over Lenin
Brought state contorl of industry and economy, and harsh dictatorshiop
Aims and beliefs:
convinced that non-communists states would try and take down the USSSR
Built up USSR’s industries in preparation for war
USA and Britain suspicious of USSR trying to spread communism over the world
Italy: Dictator - Benito Mussolini, control of fascist party since 1922
Used the Great Depression to tighten his grip on the country by taking over its banks and industries
Aims and beliefs:
aggressive political nationalism: fascism
vision wasa potentail threat to international peace
ambitions to build back Italain Empire, back to the glory days of the Roman Empire
Hoping to gain territories in Africa
Belief that powers like Britain and France were in decline. He felt that Italy had more in common with Hitler’s regime in Germany, so discussions of an alliance began.
yo boy benito hoping to gain territories in Africa if u get what i mean ;)
How did Disarmament aid in the decline of the League of Nations and internationalism?
The LON had been trying to achieve disarmament in the 1920s:
- Follwing the Manchuria invasion disarmament became a more pressing issue
- In Feb 1932, the Disarmament conference began
- The conference proposed the banning of civilian bombing and restrictions on ceratin weapon types
By December 1932 an agreement was achieved but short lived
In Marhc 1933 Hitler came to power in Germany and pulled out of the conference
People suspected that Hitler was reaming Germany and began to rearm themselves accordingly
What were the causes for the Italian invasion of Abyssinia 1935-1936?
Britain, France and Italy all had colonies in northern and eastern Africa.
BM was intrigued by Abyssinia’s mineral wealth and fertile lands
He wanted to restore Italy to its glory days of the ancient Roman Empire, and to do that he needed military conquests.
In Dec 1934, BM took advantages of the disputes over ownership of the Wal-Wal Oasis, and prepared to invade Abyssinia.
Their emperor, Haile Selassie, appeled to the LON for help, as this was a clear case fo aggression, and B and F had territory close by so this place was of interest unlike Manchuria, but they still failed anyway.
Explain how the two phases of the Abyssinian Crisis led to the decline of internationalism.
Phase 1: Jan-Oct 1935.
Stresa Pact April - British and French Prime ministers met with BM for a commitment against Germany and a formal statement about German rearmament.
B and F did not mention Abyssinia, so Italy took this as a promis that they would ignore Italy’s actions.
Mussolini started despatching forces to Africa and whipping up war fever among Italians
B and F were trying to protect their own interests- wanted to stay on good terms with Italy becuase BM was a potential ally against Adolf Hitler.
After pact, BM believed that B and F would ignore Italy’s actions in Abyssinia, as it was never discussed during the meeting.
Supposedly internationalism was workign here, as B and F seemed united, and the B foreign secretary even made a speech at a League Assembly, stressing b’s commitment to collective security.
Phase 2: Oct-May 1935/36
The League finally imposed sactions after coming to a decision (that had taken 2 months) on italy, including banning arms sales, banned exports on rubber, tin and metals to Italy and prohibited imports from there.
But, Mussolini rejected the league’s proposal and invaded Abyssinia in Oct 1935 - a clear ignorance of LON by a powerful nation, showing just how weak the LON is.
The Suez canal owned by b and f were not even closed to bm’s ships.
The hoare-laval Pact: Hoare and Laval (b foreign secretary and f premier) went against the league, regarded as an act of treachery.
The USA reacted badly, and decided to increase exports of oil supplies to Italy, instead of ban it.
Without USA on their, side, the LON stood no chance against Italy. This was a clear failure of the LON as they weren’t able to stand up against war and keep peace, which was one of their main aims, and even had people going against them.
What were Hitler’s beliefs?
Racial theory and Lebensraum (living space): believed that Germans were Aryans - a master race, and that Jews, and slavs (aka eastern europeans) were inferior; it was Germany’s destiny to cerat an empire that would rule over these people and give Germanys the levensraum they needed. Social darwinism
Nationalism: strongly nationalist - Germany above all else; hated ToV and demanded that all of Germany’s land be reagined; Naxi ideology; wanted to abolist ToV and LON (internationalism)
Destroying communism: disease that needed to be wiped out
Militarism: war was a measure of health and strength of a nation
Autarky: become economically self-sufficient
