The 1920s Flashcards
Why was the League unsuccessful in the quarrel between Poland and Lithuania over Vilna?
(1920)
1922, Poland annexed Vilna province. The Conference of Ambassadors took the matter into its own hands and recognised Polish sovereignty over Vilna. The League of Nations was unsuccessful in this incident because Britain, France and Italy had failed to use the machinery of the League of Nations to stop Polish aggression. The League could not impose a solution without the support of the Great Powers.
Why was the League successful in the dispute over the Aaland Islands?
The League of Nations was successful in this incident because they gave their verdict on the dispute and it was accepted and adhered to.
Why was the League unsuccessful over Corfu (1923)?
The League was unsuccessful, as it was bypassed by the Conference of Ambassadors. This incident underlined the continuing ability of the major powers to ignore the League and take unilateral action when it pleased them.
Why was the League’s intervention over Mosul a success? (1924)
This was a success for the League as they were able to mediate a dispute and were listened to on their recommendation. The dispute was between Britain and Türkiye, the League ruled that Mosul would become a mandate of Iraq, effectively putting it in British control.
Why was the League successful in mediating the Greco-Bulgarian dispute?
The Council’s request for a ceasefire was heeded immediately by both sides. Both sides also accepted the verdict of the commission. The League was successful because its intervention was decisive and heeded by both sides.
What were the Locarno Treaties (1925)?
The Locarno Treaties declared the inviolability of the Franco-German and Belgian-German frontiers and the demilitarisation of the Rhineland, (not extended to the Eastern frontiers). The Treaties were underwritten by an Anglo-Italian guarantee to assist the victims of aggression.
Aside from the Dawes Act and Young Plan, what are two other successes of Gustav Stresemann?
- Evacuation of the Cologne zone in January 1926
- Germany joining the League of Nations in 1926 with a permanent seat at the Council
What was the Little Entente? (1921)
A pact signed between Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia, later joined by Romania. It was mainly directed at Hungary and was not an Anti-German alliance. France was not a part of the alliance but it encouraged its signing.
What are examples of French alliances in the Balkans and to Germany’s east?
i) In 1921, France concluded an alliance with Poland.
ii) In 1924, France concluded an alliance with Czechoslovakia but this was not strictly an anti-German alliance.
iii) In 1926, France signed a treaty with Romania guaranteeing its frontiers. iv) In 1927, France signed a treaty of friendship with Yugoslavia.
What was the significance of the Washington Five Power Naval Conference?
(1921-22)
This resolved the issue of growing Anglo-American naval rivalry and deteriorating US-Japanese relations. Britain could not afford a naval race and America wanted Britain to terminate the twenty-year old Anglo-Japanese Alliance. The Five-Power Naval treaty was signed between Britain, America, Japan, France and (later) Italy. The Treaty set fixed ratios of Japanese, French and Italian ships to British and American capital ships. It limited naval expansion and tension, as had been seen prior to WWI. The nations agreed to refer any dispute to a conference of the four signatory powers and the agreement was later extended to smaller ships. There were some drawbacks: submarines were not included in the treaty and countries found ways around the rules (it drove innovation).
What was the significance of the French occupation of the Ruhr for international relations?
It marked the end of attempts to carry out the Treaty of Versailles by force and marked the gradual revision of the Treaty itself.
What was the value of the loan given to Germany as part of the Dawes Act? (1924)
800 million gold marks
What was the reduction of German reparations agreed by the Young Plan? (1929)
132 to 112 billion gold marks
When did Germany join the League of Nations?
1926
