The league of nations

Question 1

What were the Aims of the league?

Answer 1

To achieve international peace. They planned to do this via all countries in the world joining the league and disarming.

Question 2

How was the league organised

Answer 2

The league had France, Britain, Italy and Japan as permanent members they had a veto. However every decision had to be voted on unanimously. Also countries could leave whenever they wanted.

Question 3

What was the assembly

Answer 3

The assembly was the leagues parliament. It met once a year. It decided on issues such as admitting new countries to the league and the council.

Question 4

What was the council?

Answer 4

The council was the main commitee of the league. The permanent members were England, France, Italy and Japan. It met 5 times a year and in case of emergencies and was there to solve disputes and give out punishments.

Question 5

What commisions did the league have

Answer 5

Mandates- Germanys colonies run fairly
Refugees- Get people back home after WW1
Slavery- To abolish slavery around the world
Health- To tackle world wide diseases, e.g. malaria

Question 6

Why was there a dispute in Upper silesia?

Answer 6

1920- Both Germany and poland wanted control of it, partly due to its iron and steel industry.

Question 7

What did the league decide to do in Upper Silesia

Answer 7

They introduced a Plebscite where the silesians voted which country they wanted to join. The league sent British and French troops there to keep order. The league devided it based on the results of the vote. Both countries accepted the decision. POSITIVE- both countries were happy.

Question 8

What happened in Corfu- August- September 1923

Answer 8

An Italian general was kiled on the border between Greece and Italy. Mussolini blamed this on the Greeks and demmanded they pay compensation to Italy. However Greece said that they didnt know who the murderers were. This led to Italy bombarding the island of Corfu on 31st of august 1923.

Question 9

What did the league do in corfu?

Answer 9

The league decided that Italy was in the wrong but said that Greece should pay compensation after the killers where found. Italy accepted this in public however it persuaded the league to change their mind. Neither France or Britain would act without each other. This meant that the Greeks were forced to pay compensation. NEGATIVE- the league was persuaded by Italy to change their decision to benifit Italy.

Question 10

What happened in the Aland islands?

Answer 10

Both Finland and Sweden wanted control of the Aland islands since they were located between the two countries. Both countries were threatening to fight for them.

Question 11

What did thge league decide to do in Aland

Answer 11

The league decided that the Aland islands should go to Finland. Both countries accepted the decision. POSITIVE- prevented war

Question 12

What happened in Bulgaria- October 1925

Answer 12

Greek troops invaded Bulgaria after some soldiers were killed on the border.

Question 13

What did the league decide to do in Bulgaria

Answer 13

The league ordered Greece to pay £45,000 compensation to Bulgaria. The greeks obeyed. however they complained that it was one rule for them and a different for bigger states. POSITIVE- prevented war

Question 14

What happened in Vilna-1920

Answer 14

Vilna was the capital of Lithuania, however most of its population was polish. Poland took it over in 1920. Lithuania appealed for help.

Question 15

What did the league decide to do in Vilna

Answer 15

The league could have sent troops to force Poland out of Vilna but neither France or Poland wanted to upset poland because they saw them as an ally against Germany in the future. Poland kept vilna. NEGATIVE- the countries self interests led to them doing nothing.

Question 16

How did the great depression cause Japan to become agressive?

Answer 16

The great depression meant that Japans main trading partner- america, slowed trade considerably to them. Japan wanted an empire that was self sufficient and didnt rely on anyone else. The way they decided they could do this was invading mainland China.

Question 17

How did the economic problems cause the league to have more problems

Answer 17

The main powers in the league were more focused on their own economies

Question 18

What happened in Manchuria - 1931

Answer 18

Japan needed materials since it was an island, however it as difficult and costly to transport them to the island. It also needed more space to house their rapidly growing population. Taking over Manchuria meant that they would have access to the railway. Japan exploded part of the railway in september 1931 and blamed it on the Chinese, They invaded and stationed troops in manchuria.

Question 19

What did the league do in Manchuria

Answer 19

There was a years delay inbetween the start of the Invasion and the time the report was released.
The league thought about imposing sanctions in Japan but they wouldnt have effected Japan much since its main trading partner was America. Also many countries were scared to impose sanctions incase Japan escalated the war.
Britain and France didnt want to risk their militaries in a war against Japan
Only the USSR would have had the resources to stop Japan by force, however they werent part of the league.
After the league made its report. Japan left the league.

Question 20

Why did the disarmerment conference fail

Answer 20

Countries made plans to disarm, However Hitler was appointed Chancellor in Febuary 1933 and started to rearm. Later in October 1933 Germany left the conference. No one was going to disarm if Germany didnt.

Question 21

Background to the absyinia crisis

Answer 21

Italy had attempted to expand into Africa by invading abysinna in 1896. Diespite having much better equipment they were heavily defeated at the battle of Adowa. This meant that Italy wanted revenge
Italy also felt they didnt get enough land from the treaty of versialles. The invasion of Abysinna would make up for these dissapointments. They also needed some military victories to impress the rest of the world and its population.

Question 22

What caused Italy to invade Abysinna in december 1934

Answer 22

Mussolini accused Abysinnians of agression at the Wal Wal oasis. He ordered troops to attack. Abysinnia appealed to the league.

Question 23

What did the league do in abysinnia

Answer 23

4th september 1935- After 8 months of the invasion the league made a report that said neither side was to blame for the Wal Wal incident. They also proposed a plan that would give some of abysinia to Italy. Mussolini rejected it.
October 1935- Britain agreed to support sanctions on Italy. However they decided to wait for 2 months to decide if they would make oil sanctions on Italy.
December 1935- Hoare laval pact would have given 2/3 of abysinia to Italy. America was disgusted with them and refused to support sanctions on Italy.
February 1936- The league decides to stop oil sales. To late to stop the invasion though as most of abysinia had already been taken over.

Question 24

What happened after the Abysinia crisis

Answer 24

France and britain were more interested in keeping Italy as an ally instead of saving abysinia. However after the invasion Italy and Germany made the Rome- Berlin axis. So now Italy was on the side of Germany.