League of Nations- IGCSE

What could the LON assembly do?

1- addmitting new members
2- Appointing new members
3- The budget of the LEague
4- Other ideas to put forward

How many times a year would the Assembly meet?

JUST ONCE A YEAR

How many times a year would the council meet?

Five or six months a year

Who were the permanent members of the council?

Italy, Japan, France, Britain

What did the permanent members of the council have?

The power of veto- They could stop the council to act even if everyone agreed.

What would the Secretariat do?

1- Performing the League's adminsitrative tasks
2- Keeping record
3- Organising conferences

What was the Permanent Court of International Justice's job?

Settling disputes between countries peacefully.
If asked the Court would give a decision on a border dispute between countries
The court had no way to make sure that the countries followed its rules.

Covenant

All of the laws that the League members must adhere.

Aims of the League of Nations

1-discourage aggression from any nation
2-To encourage countries to cooperate in business and trade
3-To encourage countries to disarmament
4- To improve the working and living conditions of people all over the world.

What were the sanctions in the LON

1- Moral condemnation and identigfying a nation's aggressive behaviour
2- Economic sanctions
3- Military force; as the League didn't have one, it relied on the allies force.

What was International Labour Organisation's job?

1-The ILO brought together employers, governments and workers' representatives once a year.
2-Its aim was to
improve the conditions of working people throughout the world.
3- It collected statistics and information about
working conditions and it tried to persuade member countries to adopt its suggestions

What agencies and commissions did the League have?

1- Economy and Finance
2- Military
3- Mandates
4- Health
5- Communication
6- Protection of children and women
7-Intellectual cooperation
8- Refugees
9- Disarmament

Why was the League affected when USA didn't join?

1- The USA could have assisted the League economically and militarily.
2- Economic sanctions with USA's backing would have been more powerful
3- It absence made the League dominated by Britain and France

Describe the refugees situation in 1919

1- 250,000 Russians remained in German and French camps.
2-there were over 300,000 Austrian and German captives being held in Russia.
3- No food and passport and rights

What did the League do for Greeks?

the League created brand new fishing settlements which helped Greek fishermen to
restart their businesses on the Greek side of the Aegean Sea.

What did Fridtjof Nansen do?

1- helped return and relocate over 425,000 prisoners of
26 nationalities within two years.
2- He created the Nansen Passport allowing refugees to travel on a League of Nations identity document.

What were the white slave traffic women forced to do?

were forced to leave North America and Europe to become prostitutes in the large cities of South America, North Africa and the Middle East. By 1939, the traffic in
women and children was gradually cut down to a trickle.

What did the Slavery Committee of the League do?

The Slavery Convention brought about the freeing of 200,000 slaves in British-owned Sierra Leone and
organised raids against slave owners in Burma.

What did the Slavery committee do in Africa?

Elsewhere in Africa it challenged the use of forced labour to build the Tanganyika railway where the death rate among the African workers was a staggering 50%. League pressure brought this down to 4%.

What did the League of Nation do about drugs?

1-The League pressured governments to tighten up customs controls at ports.
2- It persuaded governments to stop the transport of opium and cocaine.
3-It prevented drug cargoes from being insured.

What did the League's health committee do?

1-The Health Committee worked hard to defeat leprosy starting to investigate the extent of the disease,
the success of various treatments, and the feasibility of uniform policies on the disease.
2-It started a global campaign to exterminate mosquitoes reducing the cases of malaria and yellow fever in later decades.
3-It persuaded the USSR to adopt advice on preventing plague in Siberia.
4-The Health Committee developed into the World Health Organisation

What did the International Labour organisation do?

1-The ILO was successful in banning poisonous white lead from paint.
2- The ILO limited the working hours that small children were allowed to work
3- It campaigned strongly for employers to improve working conditions generally.
4-It introduced a resolution for a 48-hour working week.

What did the Transport organisation do?

The League made recommendations on making shipping lanes.
It produced an international highway code for road users

What was the Aaland affair on 1920?

The Aaland Islands in the Baltic Sea were claimed by both Sweden and Finland .
Most of the islanders wished to be ruled from Sweden
Finland was not a League member, but cooperated with the League.
The League decided that the islands should remain Finnish, but that the Swedish culture of the islands
should be safeguarded.

what was Vilan affair on 1920-1923

1-Poland and Lithuania, two newly-created states, both claimed the ancient town of Vilna. Many years
before it had been the capital of Lithuania, but by 1920, many of its inhabitants were Polish.
2- Both sides prepared for war and there were frequent clashes between rival troops.
3- The League negotiated an armistice, but the Poles ignored the truce and invaded Vilna indefiance of the
League.
4-The LON wanted to hold a plebiscite to settle the matter but could not do so as long as Polish troops
remained in the city.
5-The Conference of Ambassadors stepped in. This was a committee of four of the Allied Powers allowed by
the TOV to fix boundaries which were not already settled by the treaty. The COA gave Vilna to the Poles.

Upper Silesia in 1922

Upper Silesia was claimed by both Germany and Poland.
After a League investigation it awarded most of the area to Germany leaving an important industrial
district within Poland.

What was the Corfu in 1923?

1-After the TOV the conference of Ambassadors was left to work out the border between Albania and
Greece.
2-The COA working party included an Italian, General Tellini. In August 1923 his car was ambushed near
Janina in northern Greece and he was killed.
3-Mussolini, ruler of Italy sent an ultimatum to the Greeks. It demanded they apologise, hold an immediate
inquiry to execute the culprits and pay 50,000,000 lire as compensation.
4-The Greeks rejected the ultimatum and Mussolini's warships bombarded the Greek island of Corfu and
invaded, thus breaking the Covenant of the League
5-The LON called for Greece to compromise by placing 50,000,000 lire in a Swiss bank pending an
immediate inquiry. The Greeks accepted this measure.
6-The COA stepped in saying that the LON had no jurisdiction over the matter as one of their members had
been attacked. The COA ordered the money to be sent to Italy directly bypassing the LON entirely.

Bulgaria and Greece in 1925?

1-An argument between Greek and Bulgarian troops in October 1925 led to the death a of Greek soldier.
2-• Greece invaded Bulgaria and Bulgaria appealed to the League.
3-Under pressure from the Council and the threat of economic sanctions supported by a naval
demonstration in which British ships would participate, the Greeks gave way.
4-The League ordered a ceasefire and a Greek withdrawal. Bulgaria was made to pay compensation.

Bolivia and Paraguay in 1928-36

Bolivia and Paraguay both claimed the territory of northern Chaco.
Paraguay was winning the war and refused to negotiate.
The League imposed arms sanctions with the USA participating.

Leticia 1932?

1-In 1932 Peru seized the small Columbian settlement of Leticia.
2-Columbia appealed to the League after fighting broke out.
3-The LON persuaded Peru to withdraw and placed League officials in the area.
4-In June 1934 the area was returned to Columbia.

What was the Ruhr Crisis in 1923 about?

1- Germnay was unable to pay the reparation
2-British government accepted a moratorium(delay)
3- The french Prime Minister, Poincare, rejected the moratorium and sought ways the Germany could pay in kinds(with coal and still etc)
4- In December 1922, Germany failed to pay the installment and France invaded the industrial area of Ruhr and taking over Germna coal and timber
5- The German government reacted with a policy of passive resistance and a General Strike was declared
paying German workers salaries and compensating industrialists for the loss.
• The French imposed a blockade and imprisoned German workers who failed to cooperate.
• The Germans began to print money to pay off the debt, but this led to hyperinflation.
• Due to lack of support from the British and the Americans, the French were forced to negotiate.
• Poincare was criticised for applying such an aggressive strategy.

Dawas Plan 1924

• The USA, Britain, France and Germany negotiated a plan which would call for a new schedule of
repayments and the withdrawal of French troops from the Ruhr.
• Annual payments were reduced and a two-year moratorium was granted.
• A loan of 800 million marks was made by the USA to Germany to help her overcome its economic
problems.
• American loans enabled Germany to pay reparations to Britain and France , who, in turn, paid their war
debts back to the USA.
• The Dawes Plan showed that regardless of US isolationism, it could not turn its back on European
economic affairs.

Locarno Pact 1925

Germany, France and Belgium agreed to TOV border terms and not to attack each other; this
means that Germany accepts all changes to its western territories.
• The Council of the LON will settle any dispute.
• The Treaty of Mutual Guarantee included in the Pact guaranteed a British and Italian response to
aggression.
• Allied troops would withdraw from the Rhineland in stages
• Germany would be eligible to join the League of Nations.

what did Stresemann aim for

rejuvenating the German economy after Hyperinflation and improving Germany's image worldwide

Kellogg-Briand Pact(1928)

Made by: American Secretary of State Frank B Kellogg+ French foreign minsiter Aristide Briad
They proposed a treaty which would outlaw war
This made: The reputation of the League and the idea of collective security stand high

What was the disadvantage of Kellogg- Braid Pact

It enforced nothing

Young Plan 1929

• It reduced the total amount of reparations
• The Reparations Committee would no longer be able to impose sanctions
• It proposed further loans made by the USA to Germany

What triggered the great Depression

The wall street Crash in 1929

What were its economic impacts:

Between 1929 and 1932 the volume of world trade fell by 70% leading to mass unemployment
• By 1932 Germany suffered from 26% unemployment
• American banks called in the loans to Germany

What did countries do as a result of the Great Depression?

In order to keep money and investment within their own borders, most nations erected trade barriers by
taxing imports further hindering world trade

What was the result of trade bariers?

This led to 61% decline in German industrial production
• This led to 70% decline in American trade
• Japan was also heavily affected by the restriction on exports

what were the political effects of Great Depression on USA

Franklin D Roosevelt won the presidency
• He advocated a policy of deficit spending where the government borrowed and spent more money than
they brought in by taxes as a way to stimulate the economy.
• He also led the USA into further isolationism

What were its political effects on Britain

• The Labour Government fell in 1931 when it was replaced by a National (coalition) Government.
• The National Government took Britain out of the gold standard making its imports cheaper
• It implemented a system of imperial preference where it preferred to buy goods made within the British
Empire.
• It reduced spending on arms working instead for world disarmament

What were the effects on France

• Crisis in France led to eleven governments coming to power within four years
• Radical nationalists and socialists became more popular
• Rising unemployment and growing political unrest

What were the political impacts on Germany

• Germany focused on reducing spending deciding instead to keep exchange rates high
• Policies failed to stimulate growth and by 1932 six million Germans were unemployed
• Germans turned to radical politicians within the National Socialist and Communist parties.
• Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933 and began rearmament

Why did Japan invade Manchuria in 1931?

1- Between 1929 and 1930 the exports dropped by 40%.
2- Japan's population was growing challenging the nation's resources
3- Top generals wanted Japan to become self-sufficient by expanding its empire.
4- Japanese emigrants were being turned away from Australia and the USA due to stricter immigration laws.
5-• Manchuria produced almost half the world's supply of soya beans and has large coal and iron reserves.

How did Japan invade Manchuria

• Japanese presence in China was very strong and it leased the South Manchurian railway protecting it with
its own military force, the Kwantung Army.
• During the Civil War many acts of violence against foreigners took place. Japanese nationals numbered
seven out of ten foreigners residing in China at the time.
• On 18 September 1931 a bomb exploded near Mukden on the South Manchurian railway. The Japanese
accused the Chinese of sabotage, although they might have planted the bomb themselves.
• As a result Japanese forces pushed further into Manchuria.
• As a member state victim China appealed to the League of Nations.

What was the Lytton Report

• The League appointed a Commission of Enquiry under the command of Lord Lytton (Great Britain) and
formed from representatives from the USA, France, Germany and Italy with the aim of researching the
Japanese incursion and assigning blame.

What was the problem with Lytton report

1-• Japan was a permanent member of the Council so the League had to tread carefully.
2- The Lytton Commission took months to arrive in the area. It spent several months interviewing witnesses.
• During the fact-finding mission the Japanese army continued its advance.
• By March 1932, Manchuria had become a Japanese puppet state called Manchukuo, with Pu Yi, the last
Chinese Emperor, as ruler by name.

What was the Lytton Report's conclusion

1- The report recognised that Japan had special rights in the region and that its nationals were not
adequately protected by the Chinese state.
2-• It rejected the use of force by the Japanese.
3-It refused to recognise Manchukuo.
4- It recommended that Japan withdraw its troops and recognise Chinese sovereignty over the area.

What was the result of Lytton Report

Japan withdrew from the Assembly in March 1933

What was the impact of invasion?

Even though the Lytton Report was completed with full coioperation from the League it did not prevent
Japan from invading China.
• Japan benefited greatly from the annexation of Manchuria gaining raw materials and a strategic location
for its future military operations.
• League failure in Manchuria may have encouraged Mussolini to challenge the League in 1935 in Abyssinia.

Why did the LON fail in Manchuria?

The Lytton Commission took too long to prepare their report.
• Neither France nor Britain wanted to get involved in an expensive war fighting so far away from home
• Nationalist Japan was preferred to a communist China. The communists were fighting the Chinese
nationalists in Civil War
• Economic sanctions could not be successfully deployed without US support.
• Collective security failed when Council members were involved.

When was the WAshington Naval Agreement?

1921

How many power agreement did the Washington Naval Agreemnets have

1- Four Power agreement
2- Five power agreement
3- Nine power Agreement

what did the Four Power agreement agree on?

USA, Britain, France and Japan guaranteed each other's territories in the Pacific

What did the Five power Agreement agree on?

1-USA, Britain, France, Japan and Italy limited their naval forces by rations 5:5:3 for USA, Britainn, Japan
2- France and Italy were allowed half Japan's naval size
3- They also promised not to build battleships and cruisers for 10 years
4- To destroy ships unitil the ration was reached

What did the Nine-power Agreement do?

USA, Britain, France, Japan, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands and Portugal reaffirmed the
Open-Door Policy and guaranteed the territorial integrity of China.

What was London Conference and Treaty for Limitation and Reduction of Naval Armament do in 1930?

1- It aimed at taking further steps in naval disarmament by including submarines and smaller warship.
2- The naval ratio between the USA, Britain and Japan was modified benefitting Japan who obtained parity in
submarines.
3- Countries were eager to reduce spending on arms due to Great Depression

How long did it take the Geneva Disarmament Conference to begin?

6 YEARS!

What Were the difficulties faced in the disarmament conference?

It was difficult to agree on the meaning of disarmament. Negotiations on definition led to friction and little was accomplished.
• How would disarmament be implemented? Who would verify whether nations had disarmed? Even if an
international organisation was appointed to enforce disarmament, how was it to operate without
affecting the principle of sovereignty?
• France placed security ahead of disarmament and called for more guarantees of German disarmament.
• Germany, whose disarmament was imposed by the TOV demanded 'equality of rights'. It argued that
either both countries disarmed or both should be allowed to rearm.
• When Hitler came to power in 1933 he withdrew Germany from the conference and the League of
Nations.

What does Germnay do in July 1932?

Germany calls for all nations to disarm

What happens in September 1932?

The british try to compromise with Germans, but the Germans were insulted by their superior tone.

What happens in december and January 1932?

An agreement is reached to treat Germany equallly. Germany announces its return to the conference.

What happens on february 1933?

Hitler begins rearming Germany

What happens in May 1933?

Hitler promises to disarms if all nations disarm within 5 years. In June 1933, Britain produces an ambitious disarmament plan
In October 1933, GERMAY WITHDRAWS FROM LON.

what is Stresa Front?

An agreement that Mussilini signed with Britain and France to limit German expansion

Why did Mussolini invade Abyssinia?

• Abyssinia, the last independent African country ruled by Emperor Haile Selassie, was situated between
two Italian colonies: Eritrea and Somaliland.
• In 1896 Abyssinia defeated Italian troops at the battle of Adowa.
• Mussolini sought to redress this humiliation and build on his colonial empire.

How did the Abyssinian Crisis start?

In 1934 Italian troops provoked a clash at the Wal Wal oasis. Mussolini demanded compensation for the
deaths of 30 Italian soldiers.
• Haile Selassie asked the League to send foreign observers and arbitrate in the conflict.
• Mussolini refused to negotiate and prepared for invasion.

What was Britain and France's reaction to Abyssinian crisis?

They did not want to upset Mussolinin as they needed him as an ally against Hitler.

What did Haile Selassie do when Abyssinia was invaded

He escaped to Britain.

What was the League's response to the invasion of Abyssinia?

The League declared Mussolini an aggressor.
• It imposed economic sanctions on Italy in an attempt to deprive Italy of necessary goods.

Why were the LON?

• Japan and Germany ignored the sanctions while the USA continued to trade with Italy
• Britain kept the Suez Canal open so Italy could supply its troops in Abyssinia.
• They took too long to be implemented

What were the self interest of League members whilst the Abbyssinian invasion continued?

Britain did not want to engage in confrontation in the Mediterranean. It wanted to be able to respond in
the Pacific if Japan continued to threaten its interests.
• A friendly Italy would help France protect its Mediterranean coastline. Also Italy was a useful ally against
Hitler's Germany.
• Italy was a corridor through which French assistance could be sent to the Little Entente
• Public opinion in France and Britain was against war

What did Hoare- Laval Pact aim for

They wanted to secretly solve the Abyssinian Crisis and appease Mussolini

Who signed the Hoare-Laval Pact?

British Foreign Secretart, Sir Samuel Hoare, and French prime minister Pierre Laval.

What did the Hoare- Laval Pact offer to Mussolini?

They proposed to offer Mussolini large parts of Abyssinia, while giving Haile Selassie British Somaliland
and access to the sea.

What was the result of Hoare Laval Pact?

Details of the pact were leaked to the press leading to a public outcry in Britain and France who were
outraged by the hypocrisy of imposing sanctions on Italy while promising him concessions.
• Both Hoare and Laval lost their jobs.
• Both permanent council members were discredited and the League lost respectability.

How did the Abyssinian invasion affect the League?

The Abyssinian Crisis shattered any hopes that the League or collective security could protect nations.
• The Stresa Front ended the alliance between France, Britain and Italy.
• Italy approached Germany signing the Rome-Berlin Axis in 1936
• Italy left the League of Nations in 1937.
• Hitler invaded the Rhineland in 1936 to test the League at its weakest.

Hoare Laval pact

8 december 1935

Abysinian crisis

4 December 1934

article 10

part of the League of Nations that said that if any nation was attacked, the other countries in the treaty would defend them; the US did not join the League of Nations because of it

when did Mussilini withdraw from Curfo

27th of September

Geneva protocol

-1925
-League getting involved in conflict
- Britain refused to sign it

How much the Greeks were meant to pay for their conflict

45000 dollars

The effect of sanctions on Britain

30,000 coal miners were to lose their jobs
-

1936

Italy gained Abysinnia's capital= Abis Ababa