League of Nations Flashcards
What were the aims of the league?
1) Discourage aggression
2) Encourage companies to cooperate
3) Encourage nations to disarm
4) Improving living and working conditions
Who were the 4 permanent members of the council?
Britain, France, Italy and Japan
What was the special commissions of the league?
It meant they helped to tackle issues such as health, slavery and refugees
What were the successes and failures of the international labour organisation in the league?
Success- Recommended banning use of white lead in paint, 77 countries agreed on minimum wage
Failures- Only 4 members voted for a working day limited to 8 hours
What were the successes and failures of the commission for refugees in the league?
Successes- 1921 the league freed 427,000 out of 500,000 prisoners
Failures- 1933 Germany rejected the proposal to appoint a commissioner to help jews fleeing Germany
Success of the slavery commission in the league?
Organised raids on camps of slave traders setting 200,000 free
What were the successes and failures of the economic and financial committee in the league?
Success- send financial experts to help Austria and Hungary
Failure- The depression in the 1930s made it difficult for this committee
Success of the organisation for communications and transport in the league?
Success- introduced shipping lanes and produced an international high way code
Success of the health committee in the league?
Started an international campaign to kill mosquitoes and helped improve health in refugee camps
Success of the permanent central opium board in the league?
Introduced a system where companies had to have a certificate to say they were allowed to support opium
How did the absence of USA weaken the league?
USA were the most powerful so sanctions were not able to take place
Why did the absence of Germany weaken the league?
They were uncontrollable
Why did the absence of Russia weaken the league?
There was a risk of communism
Border dispute of Vilna
1920
Problem- lithuania asked the league for help when Poland took control over vilna
Action taken- France refused to send troops, Britain refused to act alone. The league did nothing
Failure of the league
Border dispute of Upper Silesia
1921
Problem- Germany and Poland voted for upper Silesia, Germany won , Poland unhappy
Action taken- The league split up upper Silesia into regions to how people voted, Germany lost a lot of coal so league imported coal on heavy discount
Success
Border dispute of Aaland islands
1921
Problem- Sweden and Finland both claimed control over aaland islands
Action taken- League gave islands to Finland but were not allowed to build forts, Sweden agreed
Success
Border dispute of Corfu
1923
Problem- Tellini was murdered whilst discussing boundaries of Greece and corfu, Mussolini invaded corfu
Action taken-Greece should pay compensation to the league which would be given to Italy once killer was found, Greece forced to pay Italy, Greece unhappy
Failure
Border dispute of Bulgaria
Problem- Greek troops invade Bulgaria
Action taken- League ordered Greece out who reluctantly obeyed
Success
What was the rapallo treaty?
1922
An agreement where Germany would return the money and land Russia has lost
The league was not involved
What was the Kellogg-Briand pact?
65 countries met to agree war would not be used to solve disputes, league was not involved because USA was not a member, league seemed like it wasn’t being used for solutions, damages reputation
What were the Locarno treaties?
An agreement where France and Germany agreed to work together peacefully , Britain and Italy also agreed not to go to war,
League was not involved as the treaty was suggested by Germany who were not part of the league
How did the depression impact the league?
The depression made countries in the league less willing to cooperate
What was the Manchurian crisis?
Japan wanted Manchuria because of it being close to them and had raw materials, 18 September 1931 the Mukden incident gave Japan an excuse to invade Manchuria
What were the leagues reaction to the Manchurian crisis?
Slow to act as they were too far away, members of the league could not afford to send troops and america was japans main trading partner
Consequences of the Manchurian crisis
Japan didn’t back out and left the league, this face confidence to other leaders such as hitler that could ignore the league too
What happened at the Abyssinian crisis ?
150 abyssinians and 2 Italians were killed in a conflict, Mussolini sent troops into abyssinia despite moral condemnation from the league
What were the leagues reaction to the Abyssinian crisis?
Members of the league were forbidden from importing Italian goods. Mussolini said he would have stopped the invasion if coal or iron were banned
Consequences of the Abyssinian crisis?
Italy left the league
Why did the League of Nations fail?
1) Had no army
2) Plans were too ambitious
3) Trade sanctions didn’t work
4) America refused to join
5) The depression mean countries were more concerned about their own problems
