Topic 2: The League of Nations

What two concepts summarised the LoN's aims?

Peace and International Co-operation

How many slaves were set free in Sierra Leone and Burma?

200,000

Were was the LoN based?

Geneva, Switzerland

What would the LoN be responsible for?

Enforcing agreements and treaties at Paris Peace Conference

When was the LoN established?

10th January 1920

How many countries joined the LoN uppon creation?

42

How many members of the LoN were there by 1930?

59

What were the 5 aims of the LoN?

Disarmament, Discourage Aggression, Collective Security, International Cooperation, Improving Life Conditions

What was Article 10?

Collective Security. Called for the League of Nations to protect any member whose independence or territory was threatened

What years was Wilson in office?

1913-1921

Who succeeded Wilson in office?

Warren G. Harding

Why was Woodrow Wilson seen weak?

Suffered a stroke in 1919 which left him incapacitated for the rest of the presidency

What did Wilson want the League to be?

A world parliament

What did Lloyd-George want the League to be?

A simple organisation that met only in emergencies

What did Clemenceau want the League to be?

A strong league with a strong army

Which countries were not invited to the LoN?

USSR (communist), Germany (war-mongering)

Why didn't the USA want to joint the LoN?

Were "isolationists", wanted to focus in their own economy, anti-ToV feelings, decline of Wilson (new republican president)

Who was Henry Cabot Lodge?

A republican senator who ran against Wilson’s LoN, ultimately resulting in the Senate’s rejection of USA’s participation

Why didn't the USA like the LoN?

A lot of German immigrants in the USA

What would be the LoN’s immediate actions on the USA’s economy?

Sanctions

What were the problems with the LoN?

Difference on what the LoN should be, Expecations too high, Non-porticipation of defeated countries, USA's refusal to join

What were the strengths of the LoN?

Many members (42), World Parliament good for diplomacy, involvement of two powers (Britain and France)

What were the weaknesses of the LoN?

Some countries didn't join, lacks army, self-interest of Britain + France

What countries were always in the LoN

France and Britain

What countries never joined the LoN?

USA

When was the USSR in the LoN?

1934-1945

When was Germany in the LoN?

1926-1933

When was Italy in the LoN?

1920-1937

When was Japan in the LoN?

1920-1933

What was the LoN's structure (6parts)?

Secretariat, Council, Assembly, ILO (International Labour Organisation), Permanent Court of Justice, LoN Special Commisions

What was the function of the Secretariat?

paperwork, made sure LoN's decisions were carried out

What was the function of the Council?

make the important decisions, supervised the Special Commissions

What were the 2 characteristics of the Council?

Made up of 4 permanent members (GB, FR, JP, ITA), decisions had to be unanimous

What were two problems with the LoN's council?

4 permanent members had too much power (self interest), was very slow to act (votes had to be unanimous)

What was the function of the Assembly?

Advised the Council on what to do

What were the 3 characteristics of the Assembly?

Met once per year, every member had one vote, votes were unanimous

What were two problems with the LoN's assembly?

Very slow to act (met only once per year), could only advise as it didn't have enough power

What was the function of the ILO?

Worked for better working conditions

What was the function of the Permanent Court of Justice?

made decisions to solve International Disputes

How many judges were there in the Permanent Court of Justice?

15

What was the problem with the Permanent Court of Justice?

Couldn’t make countries obey its decisions

What were the 4 LoN special commissions?

The Mandates Commission, The Refugee Committee, The Slavery Commission, The Health Committee

What was the aim of the Mandates Commission?

Make sure that Britain and France acted in interest of the colonies (mandates)

What was the aim of the Refugee Committee?

Find homes for WW1 refugees

How many prisoners did the Refugee Committee return home?

400,000

With how many Russian Empire refugees did the Refugee Committee work with?

750,000

How many passports did the Refugee Committee issue?

20,000

What was the aim of the Slavery commission?

Abolish slavery around the world

What was the aim of the Health Committee?

Deal with the problems of dangerous diseases

What were two of the LoN's working conditions successes?

Banned poisonous white lead from paint and limited under age working hours

What was a LoN's working conditions failure?

Failed to introduce resolution for a maximum of 48 working hours per week and 8 working hours per day

What was a LoN's health success?

Continued work after 1945 in the form of World Health Organisation and sponsored reseach into infectious diseases in Singapore and Denmark

What is the LoN’s health commission know as now?

World Health Organization

What was a LoN's health failure?

None

What was a LoN's social success?

Blacklisted for large German and Dutch companies for illegal drug trade

What was a LoN's social failure?

could not remove social injustice

What were the LoN's 3 dispute successes?

Upper Silesia, Aaland Islands, Greek-Bulgarian War

When was the Upper Silesia dispute?

1921

What happened in Upper Silesia?

Both Germany and Poland wanted to claim upper Silesia (area split into German and Polish speakers)

What did the LoN do in Upper Silesia?

Held a plebiscite and split the area according to its results

What key aspect of the LoN did Upper Silesia show?

Self Determination

When was the Aaland Islands conflict?

1921

What happened at the Aaland Islands?

Finland and Sweden threatened war over Aaland Islands

What did the LoN do at the Aaland Islands?

Decided that the islands should belong to Finland

What key aspect of the LoN did the Aaland Islands show?

Diplomacy

When was the Greek-Bulgarian war?

1925

What happened at the Greek-Bulgarian war?

Greek troops invaded Bulgaria after Greek deaths in Greek-Bulgarian front

How many people died during the Greek Bulgarian war?

over 50 (mainly Bulgarian civilians)

What did the LoN do at the Greek Bulgarian war?

Called meeting of the League’s council in Paris and ruled that the Greek troops retreated and that both sides stood forces

How much did Greece have to pay during the Greek Bulgarian war?

£45,000 in compensation

What key aspect of the LoN did the Greek-Bulgarian war show?

War prevention and collective security

What were the LoN's 3 dispute failures?

Vilna, Corfu Crisis, Geneva Protocol

When was the Vilna conflict?

1920

What happened during the Vilna conflict?

Polish troops invaded Vilna because they thought that it should be Polish

What did the LoN do during the Vilna conflict?

Ordered Poland to retreat but refused to intervene when Poland ignored them (because of France)

What weakness of the LoN did the Vilna conflict show?

Self interest within the council

When was the Corfu Crisis?

1923

What happened during the Corfu Crisis?

Mussolini invaded Corfu (Greece) after blaming Greece for the murder of General Tellini in Albania

How many people were killed during the Corfu Crisis?

15

What did the LoN do during the Corfu Crisis?

Used articles 12 and 15 to condemn Mussolini and suggest he should leave Corfu after payed compensation. Didn’t do anything after he refused

What weakness of the LoN did the Corfu Crisis show?

Self interest

When was the Geneva Protocol?

1924

What happened during the Geneva Protocol?

Britain and France brought up a protocol which ensured that countries responded to the council of the LoN

What did the LoN do during the Geneva Protocol?

Nothing because Britain refused to sign it

What weakness of the LoN did the Geneva Protocol show?

powerlessness and self interest within council

What were the 5 International Agreements of the 1920s?

Washington Conference, Rapallo Treaty, Dawes & Young Plan, Locarno Treaties, and Kellogg Briand Pact

When was the Washington Conference?

1921

What was the Washington Conference?

USA, Britain, France, and Japan agreed to limit the size of their navies

What aspect of the LoN did the Washington Conference show?

Disarmament

When was the Rapallo Treaty?

1922

What was the Rapallo Treaty?

USA and USSR re-established diplomatic relationship

What aspect of the LoN did the Rapallo Treaty show?

International Cooperation

When was the Dawes & Young Plan?

1924 and 1929

What was the Dawes & Young Plan?

The USA lent Germany 800 million Reichsmarks to pay reparations; France and Britain agreed to withdraw from the Ruhr

What aspect of the LoN did the Dawes & Young Plan show?

International Cooperation

When were the Locarno Treaties?

1925

What were the Locarno Treaties?

Germany accepted its western borders (as per ToV) and prepared to join LoN

What aspect of the LoN did the Locarno Treaties show?

Discouraged Aggression

When was the Kellogg Briand Pact

1928

What was the Kellogg Briand Pact?

65 countries agreed to outlaw war as a method to settle disputes