2 conflict and tension 1918-39 league of nations

What did Wilson want the league to look like

Acting as the world’s government with representatives from all countries would come together to make decisions about issues that affected everyone

What did clemenceau want the league to look like

Keen for it to be seen as strong

League should have its own army made of soldiers from each country

What did Lloyd geroge want the league to look like

Organisation wich could respond in emergencies to events rather than discussing every issue

What were the aims of the treaty

Stop war

Encorage disarmament

Improved lives of people around the world

To uphold the agreements made at the paris peace conference

What was the league made up of

Assembly

Council

Court

Secretariat

What were some points of the assembly?

every member state of the league is represented

meetings took place once per year

could vote on things like whether to allow other countries to join the League and how the League’s money would be spent

decisions had to be unanimous-every country had to agree

what were some points of the court?

settled disputes by hearing both sides and reaching a decision

provide legal advice to both the assembly and the council

made up of experienced judges from countries that were members of the League

couldn’t make sure that members followed decisions that it made

what were some points of the secretariat?

kept recording/minutes of meetings of the league

prepared reports for the organisations of the league

were often experts in different areas

could give advice to the assembly or council

How many counties joined the league from the start and how many joined at a later date

42 and 21 joined later

When were germany allowed to be a member

1926

When were the soviet union allowed to join

1934 as they were communist

Who never joined the league

Usa

Usa not joining meant that it weakened the league (3 things)

Economically as economic sanctions couldnt work

Militarily as reduced security without them

Politically as britain and france had there own interest and priorities

When was the aaland islands incident

1920

where are the aaland islands located

between sweden and finland

what % of the population of the aaland islands are swedish

90%

what did the swedish government propose

a referendum to be held to allow the public what would happen to the islands as both counties wanted control

What did the finnish government react to a referendum

they rejected it

Who did the league decide should be in control of the islands

finnish rule but sweedish language and culture would be respected

What was the outcome

sweden reluctantly agreed

when was the vilna incident

1920

what 2 countries gained independence at the end of ww1

poland and lithuania

what country is vilna in but who is most of the population

capital of lithuania but contains mostly polish people

what happened in october

polish soldiers took control of the city both both countries wanted control

How did the league respond

told poland to withdraw but poland added more troops

What was the outcome

vilna remained under polish control buth lithuania refused to accept this so there was war between the 2 countries

when was the incident in upper silesia

1921

who was living in upper silesia

poles and germans

Who was in control and why

poland after the treaty of versailles with a referendum to decide what country for it to go to

what was the outcome of the referendum

60% voted to germany (mostly rural areas)

what did poland think of this decision

it was unfair

what did the league recommend

upper silesia should be split between poland and germany which matched how people voted

what did germany mainly end up with land

mainly rural areas

what did poland mainly end up with land

industrial areas

why did germany complain

they lost many local coal mines

why did poland complain

only received 33% of land

what was the outcome

they both accepted and produced peace

When was the corfu incident

1923

Who were assassinated

An italian general and 4 of his staff

Where were they assassinated

Between the border of greece and albania

The greek government claims that who carried out the killings

Albanian bandits

The italian government believes who carried out the killings

Greek soldiers

What did mussolini the leader of italy demand

An apology

Arrest of those responsible

Greece to pay a 50 million lira fine

Greece refused this offer so what did mussolini do

Bombed and invaded corfu

Greece asked the league for help but what did mussolini want

Didnt want the league involved but demanded that should be decided by the conference of ambassadors which was a small council beloning to pernamnet members of the league.

What was the outcome

Italy should withdraw

Greece should pay 50 million lira fine

Why were italy treated differently

They are a pernamnt member and highlighted the leagues weakness of not being able to stop italy

When was the bulgaria incident

1925

Who were killed and where

2 greek soldiers on the border of greece and bulgaria

What did bulgaria do

Immendiatley appologise and suggested a special commission made up of army offivers from both sides should investigate

What did the greek government do

Gave bulgaria 48hrs to punish those responsible and pay 2 million francs

Greeks troops then invaded and occupied the town where the killings took place

What did the league do

Ordered greece to withdraw from bulgaria

What did greece do

Obeyed but viewed the decisions as hypocriticak as itlay had been treated differetly as a pernament member

What was the health commissions aims

Investigate and intervene in areas where there were outbreaks or epidemics of disease

What did they do

Visited sites of outbreakes like of cholera in china

Medical exchanges were oragnised so countries could share knowledge

Research on conditions like malaria cancer and hygiene

Many counrties by the 1930s had reduced spending on healthcare which limited there impact

What was the permanent central opium boards aims

Stop production and distribution of opiun and exanded to help combat uses of other drugs

What did they do

Introduced system that companies needed a certificate to impirt opium for medical purposes

Members of the league werent dedicated to stop sales as they profited from it

What were the mandates commissions aims

Ensure that former colonies of germany and turkey were now governed by britain or france were ruled fairly and moving towards independance

What did they do

Met 1 or 2 times a year ro hear reports on territories

Organised plebacites

Had limited power to force change

What were the international labour organisations aims

Encorage cooperation between employers and employees and governments to improve working conditions

What did they do

Tried to stop children under 14 working but many states refused

Banned the use of white lead lead in paint as it was poisonous

Introcduced a mimium wage

Introduced unempliyment insurance because of illness

What were the commission of refugees aims

Return prisoners of war

Support refugees

What did they do

Helped free nearly 90% of prisoners of war from ww1

Relocate and house refugees

Created nansen passport used by refugees as identification

Many countries didnt want to take refugees

What were the slavery commissions aims

Abolish slavery across the world

What ddi they do

Slavery convention aimed to eraadicate slavery but allowed exemptions for cpuntries

Freed 200000 people

Had no real powers so little progress was made

When was the rapallo treaty and who was it between

1922

Germany and russia

What was agreed in the rapallo treaty and why werent the league involved

Germany agreed to return the lost money and land that russia had lost

To cooperate in the future

Neither counry was in the league

When was the locarno treaty and who were involved

1925

France belgium germany britain italy

What was agreed in the locarno treaties

Germany wouldnt try to claim alsace lorraine from france

Germany birtain and france wouldnt attack each other

Briatain and italy would offer support to and country that was attacked

Who did germany also sign agreements with and what did they promise

Poland and czechoslovakia

Settle disputes

When was the kellogg briand pact and who was involved

1928

More than 60 countries

Who were kellogg and briand

Us secretary of state

French foeign minister

What was agreed

Wouldnt go to war to settle disputes

What did these treatys make the league look like

Look inaffective and weak and not needed

Effects of the depression on germany

Unemplyment rose to 6 million

Hilter promised to fix problems in 1933

Effects of the depression on japan

Demand for silk dropped as america had less money to buy

Wanted to increase the size of japans empire to increase trade

Effects of the depression on italy

Unemplyment rose to 1 million

Helped busnisses survive

Reduced unemplyment by public transport work programs building roads hopsitals schools

Mussolinis strong leadership

Effects of the depression on france

2 million workers went on strike

Unemploment increased

Governmwnt worried about political problems

Effects of depression on usa

Traded less with other counties

Made them less likely to settle international disputes

Effects of depression on britain

Stuggling to pay off debts

Unemplyment rose to 2m5 million

Focused on sorting out economy

What was background to the machurian crisis-why did japan invade mancuria

Usa and china (both japans trading partners) made it difficult for japan to trade as introduced tariffs

Japans army was large and powerful

By invading they can use there resorces without paying taxes, and gain money by trading these resorces

More land to grow empire

When was the manchurian crisis

1931-32

What did japan claim happened in 1931

Chinses soldiers had sabotaged the railway they were in charge of

What did japan install

A pupppet government that did whatever the army told them to

What was japans reason of invaion

China was in a stae of anarchy and japan was there to maintain peace

How did the league respond

Sailed to inspect the situation

Too slow and the report was released nearly a year after the invasion

How did japan respond

Invade more of china

Left the league

What did this mean for italy and germany

Japan got away with invasion so thye were emvourgaed to make there own moves in the 1930s

What were the causes of the abyssinian crisis

Gain revenge for an embarrassing defeat

Fertile land and lots of minerals

Italy were unhappy with what receieved after ww1

League wouldnt stop him

Wouldnt risk an agreemnt with britain and france over abyssinia

What happened in december 1934

Confrontation between italy and abyssinian rtoops at wal wal in abyssinia

The leader of abyssinia asked for help by the league and what was the outcome

Set up a committee to investigate wjat happened

Neither side were responaible for the events of wal wal

When did italy invade abyssinia

October 1935

Italy bombed villages and used chemical weapons

May 1936 italians has captured the capital addis ababa and declared victory

When was the abyssinian crisis

1934-36

Why did the league fail

Trade sanctions against italy

Trade sanctions against abyssinia

The hoare laval pact

Failure to close the suez canal

Exaplain the suez canal

Britain and france could have closed it to prevent italy invading abyssinia but they were worried of making an enemy of mussolini and then hitler

Explain trade sanctions against italy

Stopped league members selling italy weapoms but ddint stop selling of oil steel coal iron as britain didnt want to cause unemployment in mining areas.

Coal was used to fuel war machines and therefore cpuldnt invade if had no coal

Explain trade sanctions against abysinnia

League members couldnt sell weapins to italy but then they had nothing to defend themselves against italy

Explain the hoare laval pact

Britain and france foreign ministers

Agreed that italy would have areas of abysiinia but neither countries were involved in plan

Details were leaked and they were both forced to resign

Proven france and britain puts own interest first

Why did the league fail

Depression affected members

Economic sanctions werent effective

No army of there own

Moaral pursation didnt work

Members put won interest first

Poweful cpuntries werwnt in the league like ussr or usa

Worried about hitler

Slow to act

Countires go against league

Decisions were unanimous

Powerful countries funded and ran it