League Of Nations Flashcards
What are the different parts of the league?
Secretariat, assembly and council of the league, international labour orginistation, permanent court of justice and special commissions
What did the secretariat do?
They did all the admin. Carried out decisions taken by the council. They prepared the agenda and the published reports of the meetings
What did the assembly do?
It met once a year, and was made up of representative from all members nations, each having one vote. However, they all had to agree to make a decision ( The vote had to be unanimous ), which was very difficult. They could vote on addmiting new memebers, admitting report members to the council, and the budget of the league, the elected judges of the permanent court. They also discussed issues out toward by the council and could recommend action to the council
What did the council do?
They took all the major decisions. Made of permenat members , and also some temporary members for three years. In 1920 the permanent member were: France, UK, Italy and japan. For punishment it could use moral condemnation, economic and financial sanctions or military force. The council could also veto any decision made.
What did the international labour organisation do?
It discussed working conditions and got countries to make improvements. They met once a year and had representatives from all the members nations. However, it couldn’t enforce rulings or regulate businesses. It also failed to persuade country’s to adopt a 48 hr work week. It main representative was Albert Thomas. The problem was that country’s didn’t have to do what he said and so many of his ideas where ignored because people didn’t like them at the time
What did the permanent court of justice do?
They settled international disputes, eg. Frontiers, however they could not make sure countries followed their ruling. It was made up of 15 judges from member nations
What did the special commission do?
The leader of this group was called Fridtjof Nansen. This was a group that tackled problems like Refugees. They helped return 400,000 ex-POWS and refugees home from the affects of the war and the treaty of Versailles.
There was another man in the group who lead the health side of things called Rajchman who helped to defeat leprosy and exterminate mosquitoes to reduce malaria and yellow fever.
What did the big three want from the League of Nations ?
Wilson: more like a world parliament, wanted to meet regularly(he won)
Clemenceau: league with a strong army
Lloyd George: he wanted to meet only in an emergency and to keep it simple
Why didn’t America ever join the league?
- didn’t want their troops in another war. Already affected by ww1
- could cost a lot. They would have to sort out international problems and most of America’s money was made from Isolationism
- They where against imperialism so they didn’t like empire or colonies so why should they fight for France and Britain’s empires
- the republicans wanted to keep normalcy, not get involved in Europe’s bickering. They thought it was better this way and won the vote
- Some Americans didn’t like the TOV because a lot of them where German immigrants and thought that the LON would make Germany pay reps
What where the aims of the league?
- To discourage aggression from any nation
- to encourage country’s to get along and do business with each other
- to encourage nations to disarm
- to improve living and working conditions all over the world
What are some examples of the league trying to keep peace in the 1920s
- The Aaland islands, in 1921 Sweden and Finland contested these. They called in the league for help and it decided to give it to Finland and Sweden was fine with this decision
- the league was also called in about upper Silesia. It was occupied by a lot of pols and Germans. The league did a vote and the pols got the industrial area while Germany git over half the land and most the population and so everyone was happy.
- vilna, in the 1920s the area was given to Lithuania but because Poland thought it should be theirs they invaded and took it as a lot of their population lived there. Because Poland was suing force the league could do nothing and so left it
- in Corfu, 5 Italian men where shit dead so Mussolini demanded 50 million ira. Because they didn’t pay Italy invaded Corfu and because they where using force they couldn’t do anything to stop them and because Italy was in the league and a good trading partner they didn’t want to do anything.
How successful was the league in the 1920s
The league did stop quite a few country’s but they where only small countries and as soon as the countries who can use force come out the league reared it head
How did the depression affect the league?
The us asked for all its money back from Germany which was poor and couldn’t pay back. Trading was slowing down and in some country’s they where having ideas of invading other country’s
Why did militarism develop in japan?
This is because japan had always been crowded and industrial development meant that they needed food and raw materials more than ever but because of the depression no one was buying japan silk which was their main source of income so they thought that if they invaded somewhere that had these they would be fine again and have more than enough to support them
What happens in the Manchuria crisis?
The Japanese wanted new land and resources which Manchuria owned so the japan blew up their own railway and blamed it on the Chines an excuse to invade. That is called the Mukden incident. After that had done that they invaded Manchuria In 1931. Because if this China appealed to the league. The league took a year to send someone there and get them back as well as make the report which was called the Lytton report. It took way to long and by the time they morally condemned japan it was too late and japan, being judged by everyone, left the league still with Manchuria.
Why did the League of Nations fail to stop japan?
This is because japan used force and so the league had nothing to defend against or go against Japan’s army. The Lawton report took to long to make and would of been easier of USA OR THE USSR had been part of the league to get there and back quicker. Also no sanctions worked because the depression was going on so there was no tasting to stop and if there was any America was not part of the league so it kept trading with japan
Why did the disarmament conference fail?
It failed for many reasons:
- the main was because everyone loved the idea but no one wanted to be first to disarm so no one would ever be first to disarm so no one else would follow so it never happened
- the other main reason was because the league was missing some of the worlds mains powers like the USA and the USSR and so it would never work because they would always have their weapons so on one would ever feel safe with disarming when some countries still have their weapons
What happened in the Abyssinia crisis?
In 1896, Abyssinia won battle against Italy so Mussolini wanted revenge. Also because of the wall wall street crash, Italy wanted new resources. So Italy made up an excuse to invade and did. Abyssinia asked for help but the league did near to nothing because it made a pact with Italy ( the hoara lava pact ) saying that Italy can have 2 3rds of Abyssinia. Britain could of easily shut of a canal to stop Italy but Italy was a good trading partner and wanted Italy not to join Germany
