to what extent was the league of nation a success?

How was the league organised?

• assembly

• Council

• Conference of ambassadors

• Secretariat

• Court of international justice

• Slavery commission

• Health committee

• Mandates commission

• International Labour organisation

• Refugees committee

What were the weaknesses from the start?

• membership issues :

  • USA didnt join

  • Germany wasn’t a member until 1926

  • Soviet Union not allowed to join until 1934 and expelled in 1939 after invading Finland

  • Japan left in 1933

  • Italy left in 1937

• Decision making structure

How affective was the leagues humanitarian work : refugees?

• Fridtjof Nansen

• The work helped 425000 ex-prisoners of war return home and taught them new skills

• The Nansen passport gave a means of ID to stateless people

How effective was the leagues humanitarian work : health ?

• led by Ludwik Rajchman

• Established links with non - league countries to combat the spread of infection

• Reduced the incidence of leprosy and led a campaign against mosquitoes

• Research institutions developed vaccines for TB, Diphtheria and Tetanus

• The forerunner of the un’s world health organisation post - 1945

How effective was the leagues humanitarian work : working conditions?

• Under Albert Thomas

• Collected data on working conditions and put pressure on governments to change it

• Had success with campaigning against child labour, long hours and unsafe conditions

• Became part of the UN’s laws post 1945

How effective was the leagues humanitarian work : slavery?

• worked against slave trade

• Ended slavery in countries under the league’s supervision

• Reduced death rate of workers on the Tanganyika railway

• Failed to end people trafficking and forced prostitution

What happened in the vilna dispute ?

After the Versailles settlement vilna was mostly polish population was made the capital of Lithuania. A polish army seized the city as a result Lithuania made an appeal to the league.

When was the vilna dispute?

1920

What did the league do in vilna ?

The league asked the polish troops to withdraw wile a plebiscite was arranged but Poland refused.

Was it a success in vilna ?

No. the matter was passed to the conference of ambassadors who gave vilna to Poland

What happened in the Aaland islands dispute?

The dispute was between the rival claims of Sweden and Finland to the Aaland islands in the Baltic Sea. Most people on the islands wanted to be ruled by Sweden.

When did the Aaland islands dispute happen?

1921

What did the league do in the Aaland islands ?

The league investigated and gave the islands to Finland with safeguards for islanders including demilitarisation.

Was it a successIn the Aaland islands ?

Yes. Sweden accepted the judgement.

What happened in the corfu dispute ?

In August 1923 Mussolini ordered the naval bombardment and occupation of the Greek island of corfu. This action was in response to the murder of an Italian general and some of his staff who had been patrolling part of the border frontier between Greece and Albania. The murders had taken place on Greek soil and Mussolini had immediately demanded 50 million lira in compensation as well as the execution of the assassins. When Greece was unable to locate the culprits Mussolini resorted to direct action.

When was the corfu dispute ?

1923

What did the league do in corfu ?

Greece appealed to the league whose initial response was to condemn the invasion but Mussolini insisted that final abitarations should be passed on to the conference of ambassadors.

Was it a success in corfu ?

No. The body ordered Greece to pay the compensation and Italy to withdraw its troops from Corfu.

What happened in the Greece - Bulgaria dispute ?

In south-eastern Europe Greece was ordered to pay £45 000 compensation to Bulgaria after its invasion of Bulgarian territory.

When was the Greece - Bulgaria dispute ?

1925

What did the league do in Greece - Bulgaria ?

This was judged a disproportionate response to a shooting incident on the shared border in which a Greek sentry was killed in an exchange of fire.

Was it a success in Greece - Bulgaria ?

Yes. Greece accepted the ruling but felt it was unfair that Italy had been treated differently.

How did the Great Depression make work of the league more difficult?

The Great Depression affected the economies of lots of countries shrinking the worlds markets making countries less willing to impose economic sanctions and less able to afford military measures against aggression.

Why was the disarmament conference a failure ?

The treaty of Versailles committed all countries to disarm but in practice only there losing countries in WW1 Were forced to disarm. This made France not trust Germany so refused to disarm without guarantees from Britain and the USA. Germany used Frances attitude as an excuse to leave the conference and the league in 1933.

When was the disarmament conference ?

1932-1934

Why did Japan invade Manchuria?

Japan controlled Korea and had trading rights in Manchuria, which was protected by troops along the South Manchuria railway. Japan’s export industries were damaged by the Great depression and needed to import food and materials material offered a source of minerals farm land and territory for settlement which could resolve Japan’s economic problems.

When was Japan’s invasion of Manchuria?

September 1931

What was the Mukden railway incident?

Japanese troops staged an incident on the south Manchuria railway at Mukden claiming it was an attack by Chinese bandits.

When was the Mukden Railway incident?

March 1932

What was the league’s response to the mukden railway incident ?

The league had to do something so appointed a commission under Lord Lytton to investigate. By the time it arrived the Japanese were in full control. The commission took 9 months to report. It rejected Japan’s case. Japan ignored this and left the league in March 1933.

What was the Abyssinian crisis?

Mussolini wanted to conquer Abyssinia. He wanted to revive the glories of the Roman Empire and gain revenge for 1896 defeat by the Abyssinians. He is the border skirmish at wal wal as a pretext for an invasion in October 1935

When was the Abyssinian crisis?

1935-1936

What were the leagues sanctions ?

The league imposed economic sanctions on Italy but not on oil or coal which was essential for wall making. Britain and France did not want to offend Mussolini as they wanted him as an ally against Nazi Germany. They also did not close the Suez Canal to Italy as Britain feared an attack on Malta or Gibraltar

What did British and French foreign ministers secretly agree to as part of the Abyssinian crisis ?

British and French foreign minister secretly agreed to hand 2/3 of Abyssinia to Italy and compensate Abyssinia with a route to the sea through Somalia.

Why did the league fail in Abyssinia?

The sanction never went far enough and were abandoned as the Italians overwhelmed Abyssinia. Britain and France were the two most important members and did not consistently support the league as they wanted to preserve a working relationship with Italy.