LoN 1930s Flashcards
Manchurian Crisis
- Japan unable to trade w USA due to depression
- Japanese military wanted to establish and empire for resources
- Chine appealed to the league
- Lytton Report commissioned
- took 1 year
-League judgement condemned Japan - Feb 1933, Japan left league and invaded further in
- League powerless, sanctions would not work
- BR FR not willing to send troops due to economic crisis, not strong enough
- Outlined league as powerless against big powers like Japan
- Br had own colonies, could not condemn
Disarmament Conf
- Disarmament is important as power is limited by Japan exit, Hitler and Mussolini are planning expansions and Nazis are anti-Disarmament
- Hitler was secretly building up arms and left the conference in October 1932 following which he left the league
- By 1933, British people felt that the treaty of Versailles was unfair and Britain signed agreement with Germany allowing navy to 35% of British navy size
- Undermined by decisions being made outside of league
Abbysinian Conflict
- Haile Selassie appealed o league following wal-wal incident
- League proposed a plan to give Italy half of Abyssinia but Mussolini rejected and invaded
- League banned arms sales, loans and trade but not access through Suez Canal which could have resulted in war with Germany
- British and French came up with secret pact (Hoare-Laval Pact) to give Italy 2/3 of Abyssinia but the pact was leaked to the French press
- Following Hitlers march into the Rhineland in 1936, France was willing to risk Abyssinia for French support
- Hitler and Mussolini signed the Rome-Berlin Axis in 1936
- Collective Security Failed
Why did the League fail in the 1930s
FAILURE
French and British Deficiencies
Absent Powers
Lack of Armed Forces
Unanimous decisions
Resistant actions of member nations
Economic Depression
French and British Deficiencies
They often disagree and usually look after their own interests rather than the leagues
- Following the great depression, BR and FR were unwilling to enforce sanctions
- BR allow GR to expand navy
- France willing to lose Abyssinia for Italian support after Hitler’s invasion of Rhineland
Absent Powers
Key countries, particularly the USA were not in the league
- Sanctions against Japan are ineffective in the absence of USA as it is a key trade partner
- Military action can not be taken against Japan as a strong Russian or American army is needed
Ineffective Sanctions
Sanctions either weren’t used or did not work
- USA and CHINA were key trading partners of Japan and the USA was not part of the League
- Suez canal not blocked during the Abyssinian crisis
Lack of armed forces
The league had no troops of its own, members were often reluctant to/could not send their own
- BR and FR troops not capable to fight JP
- BR di not want to use troops against JP due to its eastern colonies
- Lack of an army prevented league from taking action
Unanimous decisions
As a requirement for action meant that the league often acted very slowly - members needed to be sure that they were doing the right thing
- Council unable to decide on disarmament
Resistant action of mamber nations
Some nations thought that the treaties and principles that the league were enforcing were unfair and did not apply to them
- British thought the ToV was unfair and allowed Germany to expand navy
Economic Depression
Made the work of the league even more difficult
- BR and FR unable to implement sanctions due to fear for their own economy
- Economic depression drive imperial ideas in Japan, Germany and Italy
Why did Italy invade Abyssinia
GREAT DEPRESSION/POPULARITY:
- Italy was suffering from the great depression and a successful was would strengthen Mussolini’s position and boost morale
REVENGE:
- In 1896, Abyssinian empire had defeated Italy, wanted revenge
- Stresea front weakened following BR GR naval agreement
- ‘I will avenge Adowa’ - Mussolini
EXPANSIONIST AIMS:
- Mussolini concerned by Hitlers plan to dominate Europe and decided to turn his attention to the Mediterranean
- Stresea pact only stated peace in Europe therefore Mussolini took this to mean that BR and FR would not object outside Europe
ABYSSINIAN VULNERABILITY
Why did Japan Invade Manchuria
GREAT DEPRESSION/ RECOURCES:
- Japans primary trade partner, USA decreased trade, JP had less money and recourses
- To obtain recourses, wanted an empire
EXPANSIONIST AIMS
MUKDEN INCIDENT:
- Japanese faked Chinese blowing up south Manchurian railway
How successful was the LoN in the 20s and 30s
1) To keep world peace by discouraging aggression from any nation
SUCCESSES: Upper Silesia, Aaland Islands, Bulgaria
FALIURES: Abyssinia, Manchuria, Corfu, Vilnia
2) To enhance the living and working conditions around the world
SUCCESSES: Health organisation, Refugee organisation, Economic and Financial
FAILURES: International Labour Organisation, Slavery Commission
3)To persuade nations to disarm
FAILURES: Disarmament conference
Why did the league fail in the 1930s
Manchuria:
- No army
- BR and FR reluctance to send Army
- Lack of consensus of ban of arms sales to JP
- Ineffective sanctions as Japan in main trading partner
- Lytton commission took a year to get back to the league
Abyssinia:
- Stresea pact was signed outside of league and only mentioned aggression in Europe
- Sanctions implemented but Suez Canal not blocked
- Agreement made outside of League leaked to French press
