League's Attempts for Peacekeeping in the 1920s

TOPIC 2: LoN

What Organization had to handle some border disputes?

Conference of Ambassadors

Who were the leaders of Conference of Ambassadors?

Britain, France, Italy

What 2 countries involved the Vilna dispute?

Poland and Lithuania

What year was the Vilna dispute?

1920

What caused Poland and Lithuania to become independent states?

Breakup of the Russian Empire.

Describe the events of the Vilna dispute.

1) 7th of October, 1920: Vilna becomes Lithuania’s capital.

2) 9th of October, 1920: Vilna is annexed by a Polish army.

3) LoN orders Polish army to withdraw + wait for plebiscite.

4) Poland refuses the League.

5) France doesn’t wish to go against Poland since it sees it as a potential ally.

Where are the Aaland islands located?

In the Baltic Sea between Finland and Sweden.

When was the Aaland Islands dispute?

1921

Describe the events in the Aaland Islands dispute.

1) Aaland Islands is a Finnish territory whose population is largely Swedish.

2) Many islanders want independence - almost leading to a conflict.

3) LoN decided that the Aaland Islands will remain Finnish, but the Swedish population must be protected + given autonomy.

Was the Vilna dispute a success or failure?

Failure - LoN was unable to stop polish aggression + France’s national interests overpowered the international need for justice.

Was the Aaland Islands dipute a success or failure?

Success - Both nations agreed to LoN’s decisions, so no conflict ensued.

What year was the Corfu dispute?

1923

Between what countries was the Corfu dispute?

Italy and Greece.

Describe the first 5 events of the Corfu dispute.

1) Conference of Ambassadors appoints Italian General Tellini to supervise the border between Greece + Albania.

2) 27th August: On Greek side of border, Tellini + team are killed.

3) 31st August: Mussolini bombs Corfu island - 15 people killed.

4) Greece calls LoN for help.

5) 7th September: LoN condemns Italy’s actions + decides Greece should pay compensation.

Describe what happens after LoN makes its judgement in Corfu dipute.

6) Mussolini insists the dispute be settled by Conference of Ambassadors - threatens to leave LoN if this didn’t happen.

7) French backed the Italians, because their forces were tied up at the Ruhr, so couldn’t tackle the dispute well.

8) British weren’t prepared to act without French support

9) Conference of Ambassadors made the final ruling - Greeks should apologize + pay compensation (50 million lire)

When was the Geneva Protocol

1924

Who drew up the Geneva Protocol?

Britain and France

What happened before the Geneva protocol could be signed?

New Conservative government in Britain, that refused to sign the protocol.

What was the effect of the Geneva Protocol?

Weakened the LoN, demonstrated how the LoN could be undermined by its own members.

What did the Geneva Protocol say?

If two members were in dipute they would have to ask the LoN to sort out disagreement and they would have to accept the council’s decision.

When was the Bulgaria Dispute?

1925, two years after Corfu dispute.

What happened in October 1925?

Greek troops invade Bulgaria after incident on the border in which some Greek soldiers were killed.

Was the Corfu Dipute a success or a failure?

Failure - Showed LoN weakness in: enforcing rules on a super power country + couldn’t outweigh an outside organization's verdict

What was the LoN reaction to the Greek invasion of Bulgaria?

• Quick meeting organized.

• Demanded both sides stand down

• Demanded Greek forces to withdraw from Bulgaria.

What was being negotiated at the same time as the Bulgaria dispute?

Locarno Treaties.

What was the outcome of the Greek invasion of Bulgaria?

Greek had to pay £45,000

Was the Bulgaria/ Greece incident seen as a success or failure?

Success - The league intervened quickly + took firm decisions —> both parties agreed

Successes of the 1920s:

• Aaland Islands (1920-21)

• Bulgaria (1925)

Failures of the 1920s:

• Vilna (1920)

• Corfu (1923)