Key topic 2- To what extent was the League of nations a success? Flashcards
Article 10
collective security
The assembly
- met once a year
- all members of the league were present
- fixed the budget and discussed general policy
- each member had one vote and votes had to be unanimous
The aims of the league
- To achieve international peace and security
- To promote international peace and cooperation, especially in business and trade
- To encourage nations to disarm
- To improve living and working conditions for all nations
- To uphold and enforce the treaty of versailles
how often did The council meet and who was in it?
- met 5 times a year, smaller than the assembly
- Included permanent members (Britain, France, Italy and japan) and temporary members
The secritatiat
- Did all the admin
- prepared reports
Permanent court of international justice
- made from judges of member countries
-aimed to solve things legally - gave decisions of border disputes
- had no way to enforce rulings
International labour organisation
- brought together employers, workers and governments to improve working conditions
- persuaded member nations to take on suggestions
Agencies, committees and commissions
- Mandates commission
- Refugees Committee
- Slavery commission
- Health committee
Internal problems in 1920’s LON
- The USA didn’t join
- Britain and France were not as powerful as the USA and self interested
- Germany wasn’t allowed in until 1926
- USSR wasn’t allowed in
- no army of its own and dependent on France and Britain
Minor Crisises in 1920’s LON
- 1921 Sweden & Finland : Aaland Islands
- 1921 Germany & Poland : Upper Silesia
- 1924 Iraq & Turkey : Mosul
- 1920 Poland & Lithuania : Vilna
Finland and Sweden
1921, Aaland Islands
Sweden accepted LON ruling it should remain as Finlands but demilitarised it
Germany and Poland
1921, Upper Silesia
LON oversaw a peaceful vote and divided the nation in two. Rural parts that voled to go to Poland went to Poland and the rest went to germany
Turkey and british Iraq
1924 , Mosul
LON recommended britain keep it and pay turkey 10% oil royalties for 25 years. Turkey accepted
Poland and Lithuania
1920 , Vilna
Poland condemned as the aggressor, doesn’t pull out. France and Britain not prepared to act. Nothing is done
Major Crisis’ 1920 LON
- Corfu , 1923
- Bulgaria , 1925
Corfu
Italy and Greece came close to war over Corfu. Albania and Greece were having a border dispute. Italian LON representatives were sent out. When one –general Tellini—was murdered in Greek territory, Italy retaliated by bombing Corfu! They demanded compensation. LON agreed and Greece had to pay it
Bulgaria
1925
- Greece invaded Bulgaria and Bulgaria appealed for help
- LON said both sides stand down
- Britain and France backed LON
- Greece threatened with sanctions if they didn’t stop
- Had to pay £45k
Refugees 1920’s
- 400,000 prisoners of war returned to homes
- 1922 improved conditions in Turkish war camps
- Committee was short on funds
Working conditions 1920
- banned poisonous white lead
- limited children working hours
- introduced max 48 hour work week , 8 hour day. most refused
- ILO Lacked funds and power
Health 1920’s
- spread good practice
- sponsored research into infectious diseases
- helped develop vaccines and medicines
- most successful part of the LON
Slavery 1920’s
- helped free 200,000 slaves from British owned Sierra-Leone
- Organised raids against slave traders in Burma
- Challenged forced labour in Tanganyika railway
- Brought the death rate in Tanganyika railway from 50% to 4%
Other 1920
- produced reports on prostitution, drug and human trafficking
- blacklisted 4 companies involved in the illegal drug trade
- made reccomendations for making shipping lanes
Disarmament 1920’s
- Washington naval conference , 1921
failed beyond this
washington naval conference
1921
- USA, Britain , Japan and France agreed to limit their naval size relative to each other.
without it would have continued to build their navies
London Naval treaty
1930
- USA, Japan, Italy , France & Britain agreed specifics of Washington conference
Internal problems 1930’s
- The great depression. Countries less likely to impose economic sanctions
- 1930 France and Britain begin rearmament
Minor crisis 1930’s
- 1932 Chaco war
- 1936 Spanish civil war
- 1936 Rhineland
Chaco war
1932
- Lon failed to prevent war between Paraguay and Bolivia
- Pan- american conference mediated instead. Undermined LON
Spanish civil war
1936
- LON would not intervene or prevent foreign intervention
- Mussolini and hitler supported the nationalists, USSR aided communists
- LON banned foreign volunteers, but no real impact
Rhineland
1936
- Hitler remilitarised the Rhineland. Directly going against the treaty of versailles
- Britain and France begin policy of appeasement
Major crisis 1930
- Abyssinia , 1935
- Manchuria , 1931
Manchuria , 1931
- Japan invades Manchuria
- LON response takes a year and did not call for sanctions
- Japan leave LON and invade china
- USA are not going to sanction Japan so any other sanctions are pointless
- pointless to get European navy to intervene
- LON don’t act
- Beginning of the end
could have stopped if USA or USSR was in LON
Abyssinia
1935
- Mussolini invades Abyssinia
- Britain could close the suarez canal don’t because they need Italy
- Ban the sales of arms, rubber tin and metal but not oil or coal
- Britain and France quietly make the Hoare-Laval pact undermining LON in interest of their own security
Shows British self interest
Disarmament 1930’s
- 1932-4 disarmament conference
- 1933 German rearmament begins
Disarmament conference
1932-4
- prohibit chemical warfare
- bombing civillians
- limit the tonnage of tanks
ultimately ignored
Germany walked out and left LON. began re arming in secret. Showed divide between british and french with the british who though the treaty was too harsh
German rearmament
1933
July 1932- Germany proposed all countries disarm to its level. Confrence disagrees germany leave conference
1933- Hitler begins secretly rearming
October 1933- Leaves LON and disarmament conference permanently. Continues rearming
Why did the League fail?
F - french and british self interest
A - absent powers
I- insufficent sanctions ( not putting sanctions on coal in abysinnia)
L - lack of army
U - unfair treaty
R - slow decision making
E - Economic depression
Actions the league could take in the face of an aggressive power
- Military sanctions
- Moral condemnation
- Economic sanctions
How successful was disarmament in the 1920’s?
USA, Britain, Japan and France agreed to limit the size of their navies but that was it
What other factors contributed to peaceful international relations?
- Internationalism
- Economic recovery
- increased trade
How did the great depression make the leauges work more difficult?
- Japan became more aggresive
- USA didn’t want to impose military sanctions
- Powers became more openly self interested
- BROUGHT NAZI’S TO POWER
washington conference
1921
US,GB,France,Japan agree to limit navies
Rapallo treaty
USSR and Germany reestablish diplomacy
Dawes plan
1924
US lends money to Germany for reperations
Lorcano treaties
1925
Germany accepts western borders
Kellog-briand pact
1928
65 nations agree not ti use force to settle disputes
Mandates commisson
ensured britain and france acted in their mandates best interests
Refugees commitee
assisted in 2m + returning refugees after the war
Slavery commission
worked to abolish slavery around the world. Made Abyssinia abolish slavery in order to join leauge
Health commitee
Began to educate people on health and sanitation across the world
What did membership in the council allow?
- each permanent member had a veto
What was the aim of the council
- Aimed to solve conflicts through diplomacy but could use moral condemnation, economic sanctions and military force
What was Mussolinis justification for abyssinia invasion
a clash between Italian and abyssinian forces in the wal-wal oasis
Who was the leader of Abyssinia
Haile selassie
What did Halie selassie do in response to Italy invasion?
Went to the LON and complained.Lon then called Mussolini In who played their game whilst sending troops into Abyssinia. Britain and France pretended not to notice
