The League of Nations

Question 1

What were the aims of the League?

Answer 1

Collective security
Encourage disarmament
Improve living and working conditions
Tackle deadly diseases

Question 2

How would the League deal with aggression?

Answer 2

Moral condemnation and economic sanctions

Question 3

What was the Assembly?

Answer 3

An international parliament which meant once a year. Decisions had to be unanimous.

Question 4

What was the Council?

Answer 4

Made up of the four permanent members and could veto decisions.

Question 5

What was The Permanent Court of International Justice?

Answer 5

International Court of Law that could advise countries, however rulings were not compulsory.

Question 6

What were the Special Commisions?

Answer 6

Special groups formed to tackle specific issues, such as the Health Organistaion.

Question 7

How were the Special Commisions successful?

Answer 7

427,000 prisoners of war were freed.
The League set free 200,000 slaves from Sierra Leone.
Sent doctors to help in Turkish refugee camps.

Question 8

How were the Special Commisions a failure?

Answer 8

Most members refused to stop children under 14 working.

Unable to cope with the depression after 1929.

Question 9

How did the League solve the dispute between Sweden and Finland over the Aaland Islands in 1921?

Answer 9

Both countries claimed the islands so the league gave them to Finland, but forbid the building of forts on them. Both countries accepted the decision.

Question 10

How did the League deal with Upper Silesia?

Answer 10

A plebiscite was held and Germany won 60% of the vote. The League split up the area according to how they voted. Both countries grudgingly accepted the decision.

Question 11

How did the League deal with Vilna?

Answer 11

The Polish Army invaded Vilna, who asked for help but the League did nothing as Poland was an ally against Gemany.

Question 12

How did the League deal with Corfu?

Answer 12

Mussolini invaded Corfu after a general was killed. The League condemned Mussolini, however Greece was forced to apologise and pay compensation. Mussolini proved the League could not enforce justice.

Question 13

How did the League deal with Bulgaria?

Answer 13

Greece invaded Bulgaria and the League forced them to withdraw and pay compensation. This was hypocritical as the League allowed Mussolini to get away with invading Corfu.

Question 14

What were the Locarno treaties in 1925?

Answer 14

France and Germany agreed to work together peacefully and Germany accepted the terms of the treaty and their borders.

Question 15

What was the Kellog-Briand Pact in 1928?

Answer 15

65 counties agreed war would not be used to solve disputes.

Question 16

What was the Washington Arms Pact?

Answer 16

Major countries agreed the size of their navies.

Question 17

Why did Japan invade Manchuria?

Answer 17

The depression meant that many people could not afford silk.
Manchuria was rich in natural resources.
Japan already had industry and a railway there.

Question 18

What happened in Manchuria in 1932?

Answer 18

Mukden Incident - Japan blamed China for an explosion on the railway. The Japanese Army invaded Manchuria and China appealed to the League, who issued moral condemnation. Lord Lytton took a year to publish his report and Japan left the League.

Question 19

How was the Manchurian Crisis a failure for the League?

Answer 19

The Lytton report took too long and Asia was not considered vital to European countries. Members were unwilling to impose trade sanctions or take military action.

Question 20

Why did Mussolini invade Abyssinia?

Answer 20

Mussolini wanted to rebuild the Roman Empire and wanted revenge for a previous failed attempt. There were lots of natural resources in Abyssinia. Mussolini was confident due to the Stresa Front and the League’s reaction to his invasion of Corfu.

Question 21

What happened in Abyssinia in 1935?

Answer 21

Italian troops clashed with Abyssinians at Wal-Wal. The Hoare-Laval Pact was made in secret and in Italians invaded Abyssinia which the League condemned. Italy used chemical weapons and left the League.

Question 22

How was Abyssinia a failure for the League?

Answer 22

Britain and France failed to close the Suez Canal and continued to trade steel, oil and coal to Mussolini, which he said would have prevented his invasion if he didn’t have them. The League banned arms sales to Abyssinia, leaving them defenceless.

Question 23

Why did the League collapse?

Answer 23

The League was poweless without an army.
Economic sanctions did not work as some major counties were not members.
The League lacked important world powers.
Countries had self-interest.