League of Nations Cases

Aaland Islands 1921

Sweden & Finland both claimed the islands. Both were prepared to go to war.Islanders wanted to join Sweden but islands were locationally closer to Finland. Islands were awarded to Finland and demilitarisation was put in place for the islanders. Sweden accepted the judgement.

Poland 1921

Poland invaded Vilna (capital of Lithuania). League order Poland to withdraw for a referendum. Poland refused and the Conference of Ambassadors awarded Vilna to Poland.

Occupation of the Ruhr 1923

Germany didn’t pay 1922 reparations (not referred to the League). France & Belgium bypassed the League and ordered troops to occupy the Ruhr. League didn’t follow the TOV and didn’t stop Belgium and France.

Corfu 1923

Mussolini ordered the bombardment and occupation of Corfu ask an Italian general was killed while working in Greece. He also wanted compensation. The League condemned Mussolini who refused to accept the decision. The League then ordered Greece to pay compensation, and Italy left Corfu.

Mosul 1924

Turkey claimed Mosul (part of Iraq). The League investiated and awarded Mosul to Iraq. Turkey accepted the judgement.

Geneva Protocol 1924

British PM Macdonald and French PM Herriot drafted a protocol to make it compulsory for the League to agree to arbitration by the ICJ. However Macdonald lost the 1924 election and the plan which could have strengthened the League was scrapped.

Bulgaria 1925

Some Greek soldiers were killed in a fight at the Greece-Bulgaria border. Greece invaded Bulgaria. The League condemned the Greek response and ordered them to pay compensation to Bulgaria. Greece accepted the ruling but felt it unfair compared to Corfu 1921