League of Nations key points

Question 1

what were the 4 main aims of the League

Answer 1

1. to discourage aggression from any nation. Article 10 stated that the League would defend the territory and existing independence of all members against external aggression (collective security.)
2. to encourage co-operations between countries, especially through trade and business
3. to encourage nations to disarm
4. to improve the living and working conditions of all people in all parts of the world

Question 2

why did the US not join the League of Nations?

Answer 2

Congress defeated Wilson’s proposal because …
1. There were 2.7 million Germans living in the USA and the League was supposed to enforce the Treaty of Versailles, which they resented.
2. America’s involvement in European conflicts might result in more American casualties
3. Some feared that imposed economic sanction would make America’s economy suffer the most
4. There was an anti-imperialist feeling in America so many did not want to support France and Britain, who they felt would dominate the League.

Question 3

When did congress defeat Wilson’s proposal and what was its significance?

Answer 3

In March 1920. This was a huge blow to the body of the League as the USA had not only suggested the idea, but were possibly the only country that had both the resources and influence to make the League work.

Question 4

Why was the assembly a weakness of the League?

Answer 4

1. Its unanimous voting system made it difficult for the assembly to implement decisions that everyone agreed on.
2. The assembly only met once a year so was less effective.

Question 5

why was the council a weakness of the League?

Answer 5

1. Each permanent member had a veto so it was hard to implement decisions, especially when countries prioritised their own interests.

Question 6

why was the League’s lack of its own army a weakness?

Answer 6

1. This meant that the League relied on members to militarily enforce its decisions, but members were not always willing to do so. An example of this is the Manchurian crisis, where the presence of the League’s own army may have resolved the dispute. In this sense, the absence of an army reduced the League’s credibility as a mandator of collective security.

Question 7

why was the League’s lack of an army more important than the attitude of its members in its failure?

Answer 7

The League’s failure was because of its blind assumption that member countries would not prioritise their own economic status and international relations over enforcing collective security.

Question 8

how was the absence of major countries from the League key in its failure?

Answer 8

1. Losing powers such as Germany, Austria-Hungary and Russia presented the League as an organisation that supported the ‘victors of war’ rather than preserving peace.
2. Without the participation of the USA, the richest and most powerful nation, the League did not have the resources or influence to do anything substantial. (e.g Manchurian crisis)

Question 9

list the reasons the league was successful in the 1920’s

Answer 9

1. Upper Silesia
2. Aaaland islands
3. improved living conditions
4. Bulgaria

Question 10

explain the League’s success in Upper Silesia?

Answer 10

In 1921, the League resolved a dispute between Germany and Poland over the Upper Silesia region by a peaceful plebiscite. It resulted in the land being divided between them and both countries were satisfied.

Question 11

explain the League’s success in the Aaaland Islands

Answer 11

In 1921, the League resolved a dispute between Finland and Sweden over the Aaaland Islands and decided that they would go to Finland. Despite Sweden’s original threat to fight for the territory, it accepted the League’s ruling and conflicts was avoided.

Question 12

explain the League’s success in Bulgaria

Answer 12

In Bulgaria, 1925, the League Council quickly made the judgement that Greece should withdraw its forces from Bulgaria and pay £45,000 compensation, supported by both Britain and France. The League’s authority can be highlighted in Greece’s acceptance of their decision due to the threat of sanctions. This demonstrated that the League could act rapidly and decisively, and its reputation as an effective mandate of collective security was restored.

Question 13

explain the League’s success in improving living conditions

Answer 13

1. The League was effective in restoring an estimated 400,000 prisoners to their homelands by the its agencies.
2. The Health Committee sponsored institutes that developed vaccines to fight diseases such as leprosy and malaria.
3. The League brought about the freeing of 200,000 slaves in British-owned Sierra Leone.

Question 14

list the reasons the League was unsuccessful in the 1920’s

Answer 14

1. Many nations conducted their diplomacy outside the league, which weakened its authority. This was shown by the Washington Conference, the Dawes Plan and the Locarno Treaties.
2. The League failed in its aim of collective security. This was shown through the incident in Corfu and the Geneva Protocol

Question 15

what was the significance of the Washington Conference? and when?

Answer 15

1. The USA, France, Britain and Japan all agreed to limit the size of their navies.
2. This was agreed outside of the league by the USA
3. 1921

Question 16

what was the significance of the Dawes Plan? and when?

Answer 16

1. 1924
2. A foreign loan of 8000 million gold marks, mostly from the USA, was to be made to Germany to help rebuild its economy.
3. As France was now assured of some reparations, it withdrew her forces from the Ruhr region.

Question 17

what was the significance of the Locarno Treaties? and when?

Answer 17

1. 1925
2. The most important agreement was that Germany, France and Belgium promised to respect their joint frontiers. If this agreement was broken, Britain and Italy would assist the state that was being attacked.

Question 18

what was the significance of Corfu? and when?

Answer 18

1. 1923
2. Mussolini managed to change the League’s ruling through the conference of Ambassadors by threatening to withdraw Italy form the League.
3. Greece payed full compensation and apologised.
4. Showed how the League could be undermined and threatened by its own members, and that it would give in.

Question 19

what was the significance of the Geneva Protocol?

Answer 19

1. Responding to the Corfu Incident, Britain and France drew up a protocol which stated that two members in a dispute would have to appeal to the League and accept the council’s decision.
2. However, the new conservative government in Britain refused to sign it as it could force Britain to do something that was not in its own interests.
3. This ended up weakening the League as it proved that members would prioritise the status of their country over collective security.

Question 20

how did the depression affect Germany?

Answer 20

1. As a result of the recall of US loans, Germany’s economy began to collapse.
2. Hitler exploited the unemployment and poverty in Germany to gain support for himself and the Nazi party.
3. Hitler openly planned to invade Germany’s neighbouring countries.

Question 21

how did the depression affect Britain and the USA?

Answer 21

1. In Britain, unemployment doubled by the late 1930’s.
2. Whilst her own economy was suffering, Britain was unwilling to impose economic sanctions.
3. In the USA, many businesses were forced to close due to bankruptcy so the USA also prioritised rebuilding their economy over sorting out international disputes.

Question 22

how did the depression affect Japan?

Answer 22

1. Leaders decided to build an empire where it could take over weaker countries that could provide resources and markets for Japanese goods.
2. Contributed to the invasion of Manchuria, which meant the League had to then control Japanese aggression.

Question 23

how did the depression affect Italy?

Answer 23

Mussolini tried to build an overseas empire to distract people’s attention from Italy’s economic problems.

Question 24

Describe the events of the Manchurian Crisis? - not including the League’s response.

Answer 24

In 1931, Japan claimed that Chinese forces had allegedly attacked the South Manchurian railway and used this as an excuse to invade and set up a government in Manchuria. China appealed to the League but as Japan was a leading member in the League, the situation needed to be carefully handled.

Question 25

how did the League respond to the Manchurian Crisis?

Answer 25

1. After the League’s officials assessed the situation in Manchuria for themselves, it took an entire year for the League to present a report (the Lytton report).
2. Despite the League’s judgment that Manchuria should be returned to the Chinese, Japan announced that they intended to invade more of china in 1933. Japan left the League and invaded Jehol in March 1933.
3. As the US was Japan’s primary trading partner, economic sanctions would have been ineffective. Only the USA or USSR had the resources to remove Japan from Manchuria by force, but they were not members of the League.
4. Although banning arms sales to Japan was discussed, the member countries were frightened that Japan would retaliate and that the war would escalate, so no active decisions were made.
5. Britain was also more concerned about maintaining good relations with Japan than imposing sanctions.

Question 26

how did the Manchurian Crisis affect the League’s reputation?

Answer 26

Demonstrated that the League was powerless if a strong nation pursued an aggressive policy and invaded its neighbours. Set an example for Mussolini and Hitler, which they would follow within three years.

Question 27

Describe the events of Abyssinia (not including the League’s response).

Answer 27

1. Like Japan, Italy was a leading member of the League that wanted to expand its empire by invading a neighbouring country. However, Italy was a European power so the League could not claim that the conflict was in an inaccessible part of the world.
2. In October 1935, Mussolini launched a full-scale invasion of Abyssinia. The modern Italian army were equipped with tanks aeroplanes and poison gas.

Question 28

how did the League respond in Abyssinia?

Answer 28

1. Britain and France were desperate to keep good relations with Mussolini because he seemed to be their strongest ally against Hitler.
2. They had even signed an agreement with him known as the Stresa Pact, which was a formal statement against German rearmament and a a commitment to stand united against the nation. Because of this, the League originally failed to take the situation seriously and when Mussolini did invade, did not act quick enough.
3. The League banned arms sales to Italy, loans to Italy, and imports from Italy, but delayed a decision for over two months over whether to ban oil exports to Italy. Whilst the League delayed decisions, Mussolini was building up his stockpile of raw materials.
4. The Suez Canal, owned by France and Britain, was not closed to Mussolini’s supply ships. If this main supply route was closed, the Abyssinian campaign could have ended very quickly. Demonstrates how the League’s aim of collective security was compromised when it came to more powerful countries.

Question 29

what was the Hoare-Laval pact?

Answer 29

1. The British and French foreign ministers secretly planned to give two thirds of Abyssinia to Italy in return for Mussolini calling off his invasion.
2. This plan was leaked to the French press and both ministers were sacked as this was seen as a blatant act of treachery against the League.
3. Damages League’s authority as Britain and France were exposed for illegal and cowardly acts outside the League; demonstrates how even the League’s leading members do not have faith in its ability to resolve disputes (everyone else will follow).

Question 30

What were the consequences of the League’s inaction in Abyssinia?

Answer 30

1. In March 1936, the League finally attempted to ban oil exports to Italy, but by this time, Mussolini had already taken over large parts of Abyssinia and formally annexed the entire country in May.
2. In March 1936, Hitler remilitarised the Rhineland, timing his move to perfection and committing and act prohibited by the Treaty of Versailles.

Question 31

what were the implications for the League? - Abyssinia

Answer 31

A disaster for the League. Collective security was shown up as an empty promise, proved that even leading members don’t have faith in the League, showed that the League delayed sanctions until it was too late and they were ineffective, showed that Britain and France prioritised their own international relations over collective security.

Question 32

Organisation: the assembly and council

Answer 32

• The assembly had a unanimous voting system, so it was hard to implement decisions rapidly or even at all
• The assembly only met once a year, which limited how useful it was in fulfilling the League’s aims of collective security
• Each member of the council had a veto, which made it hard to agree on decisions that everyone agreed on

Question 33

Organisation: the League’s lack of an army

Answer 33

• The League relied on the armies of its members to enforce its decisions, who were often reluctant to do so.
• This was a structural flaw as it was the League’s blind assumption that member countries would not prioritise their own economic status and international relations over enforcing its decisions that caused its failure.
• The lack of an army meant that the League’s primary method of enforcing its decisions was through economic sanctions, which had limited effectiveness as member states could easily find ways of avoiding them.
• For example, economic sanctions during the Manchurian crisis were discussed but not actually implemented as Japan still had the USA, its primary trading partner.

Question 34

Membership: selfish attitudes of Britain and France, the leading members of the League

Answer 34

• They initially failed to take the Abyssinian crisis seriously as Italy was their strongest ally against Hitler, so they wanted to maintain good relations with Mussolini.
• They then gave half-hearted support; they delayed a decision for over 2 months as to whether oil exports to Italy should be banned, and once they finally did, Mussolini had already taken over large parts of Abyssinia.
• During the Manchurian crisis, Britain could have used her navy to threaten Japan, but refused to because she wanted to maintain good relations with the powerful and influential nation.

Question 35

why did Japan invade Manchuria?

Answer 35

1. Japan invaded Manchuria for resources. Japan was experiencing economic difficulties in the 1920’s and so was seeking new sources of resources and raw materials. Manchuria was rich in natural sources such as coal and iron, so Japan saw an opportunity to gain these resources.
2. The trigger was a staged event in which Japanese forces blew up a section of the South Manchurian Railway and blamed it on Chinese nationalists. This provided a pretext for Japan to send in troops into Manchuria.

Question 36

why did Italy invade Abyssinia?

Answer 36

1. Italy invaded because of revenge. It had suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Ethiopia in 1896, and Mussolini saw an opportunity to avenge this defeat and restore Italian prestige in East Africa.
2. Italy invaded because of resources. Italy was experiencing economic difficulties in the 1930’s and so was seeking new sources of resources and raw materials. Abyssinia was rich in gold and ivory, so Italy saw an opportunity to gain these resources.