LoN 1920s Flashcards
Creation
USA - A world
BR - A simple organisation for emergencies only
FR - A strong league with its own army
- All major nations would join the league
- they would disarm
- Disputes would be taken to the league
- League decisions would be accepted
- Promised to protect each other if invaded
- Sanctions, use force if necessary
Too idealist, criticised, no way to ensure actions, implementation was too quick and early
USA
Congress did not approve of the USA joining the league
- Some Americans hated the ToV which the LoN was to enforce
- Sanctions would severely impact American trade and business
- Joining the LoN would mean military contributions, deaths
- Feared the LoN would be used to protect BR and FR empires
Wilson ill, unable to run for president again
Severely undermined the credibility and work of the league
Americans were the only nation with the resources or influence to make the league work, sanctions were ineffective without the USA
Aims
1) Discourage aggression from any nation
2) To encourage countries to co-operate, especially in business and trade
3) To encourage nations to disarm
4) To improve living and working conditions around the world
ARTICLE 10 - Collective security in the interest of all nations
Membership
USSR, GR, USA, CHINA, greatest military powers at the time, did not join, undermines the league
BR, FR, IT, JP permanent members
BR, FR guided policy, had other priorities, severely weakened by the war
BR - More intersted in rebuilding trade and looking after empire
FR - Used the league to protect FR against GR
Organisation
1920s disputes
Vilnia (1920)
Upper Silesia (1921)
Aaland Islands (1921)
Crofu (1923)
Geneva Protocol (1924)
Bulgaria (1923)
Vilnia
- 1920
- Polish army invades Lithuania
- French not prepared to go against Poland and BR not prepared to act alone
- Polish army for away with actions
Upper Silesia
- 1921
- Both Germany and Poland wanted control of upper Silesia
- League involved in dividing
- Plebiscite
- Both agreed
Aaland Islands
- 1921
- Both sweeten and Finland wanted control of Aaland Islands
- Diplomatically resolved
- Both accepted league ruling
- Given to finland
- Set precedent for other nations to accept league rulings
Corfu
- 1923
- Italian general sent to inspect greek border under Tov
- Ambushed and killed
- Mussolini bombs and occupies Greek Island of Corfu
- Accepts league ruling but goes to the council and convinces them to change the ruling
- outlines leagues inability to deal with powerful countries
Geneva protocol
- 1924
- Stated that two members in conflict must accept the leagues ruling
- Elections in Britain led to the protocol not being signed
- Weakened league
- Outlined Britain inability to lead the league, distracted with own problems
Bulgaria
- 1923
- Greek troops invade Bulgaria
- Greek obey league ruling and withdraw
- Greeks complain of different rulings for larger countries
- Success as conflict avoided but weakness of league underlined
Impact of great depression
USA:
- Made USA unwilling to use economic sanctions as it would make the economy worse
- Stopped trade with other countries, impacted global economy
- Stopped giving loans, weakened other economies
BRITAIN:
- Made Britain unwilling to use economic sanctions
- Did not use sanctions in Manchuria and did not send troops
JAPAN:
- Main export was silk to the USA, USA buying less meant less money for food and raw materials
- Decided to build an empire and get raw materials
GERMANY:
- Depression led to poverty, unemployment and chaos, allowed rise of hitler, openly planned to invade and get back land
ITALY:
- Mussolini intended to build an overseas empire
Other successes
REFUGEE ORGANISATION:
- Helped 425,000 displaced persons return to their homes or find new homes in 2 years
HEALTH ORGANISATION:
- Provide assistance and advice on public health matters
- R&D for vaccines and cures
ECONOMIC AND FINANCE ORGANISATION:
- Austria, Hungary, Greece and Bulgaria were saved from economic crisis
- Hyperinflation of German economy could not be prevented
INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION:
- Collected data on employment practices around the world
- Created a framework to improve working conditions, 8 hr working day etc, was not implemented
SLAVERY COMMISSION:
- Succeeded in freeing 200000 slaves and reducing death rate of workers
- universal success against slavery still low
DISARMAMANT:
- One of the leagues main aims
- Minor success in the Washington naval conference, agreements in naval limitations between USA, BR, Fr and JP
- unable to succeed in world disarmament
