League of Nations 1920 Flashcards
What was the Treaty of Rapallo?
1922 Genoa
To solve the disagreement between Germany and France over payment of reparations, but failure as they continued to disagree and America did not attend.
-But during this USSR and Germany sign Treaty of Rapallo on April 16th.
-Agreed to establish friendly relations and secretly agreed to cooperate on military planning.
-Enabled Germany to get hold of weapons banned in ToV shows down the authority of LON.
What were the discussions in Washington 1921-22?
Failure
- USA refused to support LON.
- USA made conferences of their own to limit tension in Pacific Ocean between Japan and USA.
- Treaty signed in February 1922
- USA and Britain agreed to have navies of equal size, and Japan was a third less (5;5;3).
- limits the authority of League.
When was Locarno?
- 1925 Locarno, Switzerland.
- To discuss issues between France and Germany.
- Foreign Ministers of France, Britain and Germany (Aristide Briand, Austen Chamberlain and Gustav Stresemann (he was later assassinated).
What was agreed at Locarno?
Success
- Germany, France and Belgium agreed to accept their existing borders as set up by ToV. (Peace after Ruhr)
- Britain and Italy agreed to take action if any of these three countries attacked each other. (European Cooperation)
- The main agreement and guarantee did not apply to the eastern borders of Germany as laid down by ToV.
- Germany agreed to join LON. (More cooperation and less tension)
What else happened at Locarno?
In other treaties:
- France promised to defend Belgium, Czech. and Poland if any of these countries was attacked by Germany. (Protection and shows that Germany cannot manipulate their new power).
What was the Kellog Briad Pact? (Failure)
-April 1927
Initially pact between USA and France but pointless as they would never go to war.
-By August 1928
Leaders of 15 powerful countries gathered to sign this - none of these countries would use warfare in order to get what they wanted.
-Worthless as no real obligations, restrictions on countries (and Italy and Japan sign but soon they just ignore).
What were the terms of the Dawes Plan?
April 1924 (After Ruhr)
- There was to be a 2 year freeze on the payment of reparations.
- The level of German payments was scaled down.
- The USA offered huge loans to Germany. $2 billion (build new factories, more jobs, increase trade, economy grows).
- The French agreed to get their forces out of the Ruhr.
What were the consequences of the Dawes Plan?
- Much of American money was spent on building new German Factories.
- The French had wanted to instal reparations to make Germany weak but Germany now stronger.
- Result of occupation of the Ruhr resulted in the ToV to be altered significantly in Germany’s favour.
What was the Young Plan?
1929
- significantly reduced amount of German reparations. Extreme nationalists still objected.
- After 1929 GD high high unemployment in Germany.
- 1932 participants meant to agree a final amount for Germans to pay after the three-year freeze but they never did.
What was the impact of the Locarno Treaty? (Germany)
- Each state saw Locarno differently, Germany saw it as a chance to over turn ToV.
- Stresemann had great triumph as American money would help improve their factories, but he was no content and still continued to ask for further concessions.
- Did not say anything about German Frontiers in the East, and so gave Germans hope to overturn this part of Treaty.
What was the impact of Locarno? (France)
- Power of France to intervene in Germany was weakened.
- France felt insecure.
What happened in Vilna?
Failure
- 1920
- Vilna, the capital of new state Lithuania populated by mostly Polish, and so in 1920 Polish Army just took control.
- Lithuania appealed for help from Polish aggressor.
- League protested to Poland, but Poland did not withdraw.
- Meant to send french and British troops, but french didn’t want to upset a potential future ally against Germany and British wasn’t prepared to act alone - Poles kept Vilna.
What happened in Upper Silesia?
Success
- 1921
- Industrial region on border between Germany and Poland
- Held plebiscite to determine who it goes to (allowed public to vote and not bias to Germany).
- Voting booths guarded by British and French troops (prevents corruption).
- Divided according to vote and placed safeguards along these lines to prevent future disputes, water and power supplies could get from one region to the other and both accepted decision.
What happened in Aaland Islands? (Success)
- 1921
- Both Sweden and Finland wanted control of Aaland Islands and were prepared to fight.
- After appealing to the League and close consideration, the Islands went to Finland.
- Sweden accepted (looks good for LON), war was avoided but ‘people’ did not decide.
What happened in Corfu?
Success and Failure
- 1923
- Boundary between Albania and Greece.
- Conference of Ambassadors, sort it out, supervised by Italian Tellini.
- 27th August while surveying Greek side they were killed.
- 29th August Mussolini demanded that Greek government pay compensation and execute murderers.
- 31st August Mussolini bombarded and then occupied Corfu.
- 15 people killed and Greece appealed to League.
- 7th September League condemned Mussolini’s actions (acted swiftly (by chance)) and pay Greece pay comp. held by League and then given to Italy if and when murderers found.
- Officially Mussolini accepts but behind scenes persuades CoA to change Leagues ruling so that Greece apologise and pay direct compensation to Italy. (Shows how major power can abuse League).
- 27th September Mussolini withdrew from Corfu boasting of his triumph (war avoided).
