Nate - Problems with LofN

4 main problems are:

1) collective security includes everyone, while alliance are meant to be targeted.

So it will only work if all nations think that it is a threat

2)every one has self interests, and collective security is too general

3)incomplete membership without USA, Germany(1926) and Russia (1936)

4)no independent power source and army

5)agreement made independent of the L

Aims of League are

1) discourage aggression

2)encourage nations to cooperate

3)encourage nations to disarm

4)improve living conditions and workers of the world

Council of the League

• 5 times a year

• Permanent members have veto

• Non permanent members elected every 3 yrs

• aim to resolve dispute by talking

• But the council can choose Moral Condemnation, Eccon Sanction and Military Force

• The initial permanent members of the League of Nations Council (1920) were the British Empire, France, Italy, and Japan

4 steps to resolve aggression

1)resolve dispute by talking

2)moral condemnation

3)financial sanction

4)war

Mussolini quote about the LofN

‘The league is alright when sparrows quarrel, but fails when eagles fall out’

Assembly

• the ‘parliament’ of the league

• all members and need 2/3 majority vote to admit new members

• meets once a year, and they advice council

• decisions must be unanimous

• very inefficient

• advise council

Secretariat

• civil servant of the league

• keep records of Leauge meetings and prepare reports

• contains experts from the world working on health, economic problems

• Its duties included registering and publishing international treaties, preparing the agenda for the Council and Assembly, and conducting specialized research on economic and social issues.

Permanent Court of International Justice

• based in the Hague

• settling disputes peacfully

• no way to enforce rullings

• made up of judges from different member countries

• could give decision on a border dispute between countries

ILO’s aims and what they do

• brought together labour and employers’ and goverment representatives

• improve the working conditions of the world

• collect stats

• to persuade members to make changes and adopt their suggestions

Mandates Commissions

report on how people were being treated in colonies.

Make sure that Britain and France acted in the interests of the people

made of expert adivsors to report

It could question mandatory powers and demand explanations if they failed to govern fairly

• It created a system of annual public reports that increased transparency and international pressure.

Refugee Committee

help refugees displaced by WW1

Slavery Commission

Abolish Slavery around the world

Health Committee what

sanitation and disease

brought experts together with charaties and other agencies

collect stats about diseases and health issue

spread new ideas

develop program to fight diseases

What did ppl think of the League at the time

the spirit of Genva

a tradition of dialogue, active neutrality, and international cooperation aimed at fostering peace, humanism, and diplomacy

a permanent international organisation which aims to prevent conflicts even without the US.

Vilna : Polish-Lithuanian dispute

• from 1920 - 1929

• 7 Oct 1920 Vilna with largely Polish speaking population became part of Lithuania

• 9 oct Poland annexed Vilna

• the L ordered Poland to retreat, but F and B could not enforce it

• possibly due to alliance with poland against ger

• was not resolved

Aaland Island

• 1921

• Finnish, but many were Swedish and wanted independence

• tube L awarded the island to Finland, but told Finland to keep the people safe, including making Finland remove troops + garantee the cultrual rights of the people

• Success as both countries accepted

Corfu

when was _ killed

when did mussolini bomb and invade

when did the L condem

when did Mussolini retreat

why did the L not act millitarily

• Border between Greece and Albania

• Conference of Ambassadors

• appointed Tellini to supervise

• on Aug 27, in the Greek side, he was killed 1923

• 31 of August, Mussolini bombed corfu, killing 15 and occupied Corfu

• By Sep 7, the L condemned Italy

• it said Greece should pay for compensation if the killers were found

• Mussolini said Conference of Ambassadors should handle it, as the L was ‘weak’

• Britain ready to invade, but backed down as French forces tied up in the Ruhr

• the Conference of Ambassadors ruled the Greece is guilty and must apologise and pay compensation to Italy

• 27 September, Mussolini retreated

• Historian Zara Steiner say ‘the dispute showed that the weakest of the great powers could get its way when Britain and France agreed to sacrifice justice for co-operation’

Geneva Protocol

• Because of Corfu, Britain and France did this in 1924 to make sure that everyone must go to the LofN incase of dispute

• But new Conservative gov did not sign it

• This protocol instead weakened the L

• and the protocol itself was a treaty bypassing the L

• direct response to corfu crisis

Bulgaira

• Oct 1925, Greek troops invaded Bulgaria.

• a Greek soilder was killed

• sent observer to asses situation

• L said both sides should stand down and Greece should withdraw troops

• Greece pay £45 000

• this showed how the large states get away with things - Greece unhappy

• France backed the L’s judgment - so this could be said due to cooperation between great power in the L

How would I evaluate

weigh the different things the League did against their aims

How was balance of power originally achieved?

through alliances

What were the problems with disarmament?

• Council decided that if a conflict broke out, the Council will determine the aggressor and punish it

• this would only be done if the victim also disarms

• the problem is if the victim disarms, then it would encourage the aggressor to attack

• the UK think that France is too powerful and should disarm, but France does not believe in the Leauge’s ability to protect it

• and france was annoyed about the Anglo German naval agreenment, without consulting them

• Germany was rearming even before Hitler, secretly building tanks and training troops in Russia

Successes with refugees

• 1st few years after the war 400,000 ppl returned home

• 1922, the League stepped in and helped refugee crisis in Türkiye by preventing small pox, dysentery and cholera

• The Nansen Passport: In 1922, Fridtjof Nansen introduced a,internationally recognized identification document for stateless refugees, accepted by 52 countries.

• helped refugees settle

Failures with refugees

• short of funds

• work was more difficult in 1930s when international situation more tense

• the League’s authority also declined

Working conditions successes

• ILO banned poisonous lead from paint

• limit hours children were allowed to work

• introduced maximum of 48 hour per week and 8 hour working days, but many members refused

• The ILO drove the introduction of social security, sickness insurance

• Minimum Wage Standards: By 1928, the ILO successfully encouraged 77 countries to adopt conventions on minimum wage-fixing machine

Working conditions failures

• could not enforce

• many countries refused the 8 hour day system

• lack of funds

Health successes

• collected stats and spreading good health practices

• infectious disease research centre in Singapore and London and Denmark

• Develop vaccines and medicine

• fight malaria and leprosy

• most successful

Slavery and force labour successes

• freed 200,000 slaves in Sierra Leone

• raids against slave owners in Burma

• Challenged the use of forced labour for Tangayika railway

• reduced death rate from 50% to 4% for the railway

Other things the LofN did

• recorded problems

• information about drugs and prostitution

• blacklisted companies involved in drug trade

• recommendation on practical problems like shipping lanes

• produced international highway code

what did people compare Poincare to who during the Rho crisis

Napoleon

What was the position of France at the time of Ruhr and how did Stresseman exploit this

what did us do at the timedo?

France was diplomatically isolated, and France used Britain’s sympathy to drive a wedge between France and UK

Many Brits sympathised with Ger and thought Versailles is too harsh

US also evacuated troops from the Rhineland

he made use of the sympathy

How much was Germany loaned for the Ruhr crisis

800 mil gold marks

Problems with Dawes plan?

• tied Germany eccon to us dollar

• the surplus from paying reps used to rearm

• rearm

When was Locarno and what are the key points of Locarno

• France is reassured as boarders in the West will not change

• the Rhineland will be permanently demilitarised

• Boarders in the East can change (Poland and Czechoslovakia excluded in talks about eastern border)

• 1925

• All countries promised not to attack each other, aiming to secure peace in Western Europe.

• Britain and Italy agreed to guarantee the treaties, acting as mediators if disputes arose.

• helped imporve Germany’s status to join the LofN

Problems with Locarno

they bypassed the league

the authority of the league is undermined - the leading members of the L bypass it

What were France’s tactics in mid 1920s

1. Collective security (no common enemy)

2. Special Guarantee (e.g locarno)

3. Traditional Alliance

before France would ally with Russia, now with Poland and Czechoslovakia against Ger

Problem with France’s tactics in mid 20s

• they signed Locarno so their alliance with Poland and Czechoslovakia will not work

• 1934, Germany signed a non-aggression agreement with Poland

• German Chancellor told German Ambassador in Moscow ‘Poland must be eliminated’

• Poland and Czechoslovakia are weak against Ger

what was the Kellogg Briand pact

• ‘war is bad’ - renounce war

• 1928

• Kellogg was the American secretary of sate who organised it

• Briand Foreign Minister, who initated it

• signed by 15 nations

• renounce war

• last great ‘hurrah’ of 1920s and spririt of peace

Problem with Stresemann policy?

He acknowledges Versailles to fulfilment so many nationalists hate him

What did Ludendorff say about Dawes Plan?

‘This is a disgrace. Ten years ago I won at Tannenberg. Today we have witnessed a Jewish  Tannenburg'

fuel stab in the back myth

Chamberlin’s position on Polish border

it could change

Stresemann death

30th of oct 1929

How is Stresemann similar and diffrent to Hitler

• Both side wanted the east back

• Hitler - violently

• Stresemann - through Fulfilment

Where did Japan’s confidence come from

• 1895 1st Sino Jap war

• 1905 Russo Jap war

What was Anglo-Japanese Alliance

with UK 1902

leash around Japan to stop them from attacking colonies

• regconised British special interest in China and Japnese special interest in Korea

• aimed to counter russian infleunce

• both countries would remain neutral if other is involved in war

When did Japan gain terroteries?

• 1895 Taiwan

• Port Arthur 1905

• Korea 1910

• Qingdao from Ger 1914

• 1915 Japan demand China, but rejected by US and UK

Problem with Japan (7 of them)

1. they were victors and, but were not given equal treatment as white counter part

2. in 25 years Japan pop grew from 45 min to 60 mil

3. No natural resources

4. US tariffs from depression

5. 1928-37 banking crisis

6. earthquake in 1933, devastating

7. Most of Japan coverd by high muntains. Little land to grow food

Quote about Nationalism against patriotism

‘patriotism is inherently defensive, Nationalism is inherently offensive’ Orwell

What lead to rise of military nationalism in Japan

think what pol parties are like

• bad eccon weakened civilian goverment

• the Cherriblossom Soceity thinks that Japan was let down

• Funded by colonel Kingorō Hashimoto

• they wanted to free emperor from politician and influence him

• military coup failed in 1931

• They spread ultranationalist, anti‑democratic ideology inside the army

• . They encouraged disobedience and independent military action

• Kuantung army invaded Manchuria without offical permission from Tokyo

• Emperor Hirohito increasingly sided with military leaders

• Economic crisis and the Great Depression destroyed trust in civilian government

• Western treaties (e.g., naval limits) were seen as humiliations imposed on Japan

• Schools promoted emperor‑centred nationalism and loyalty above democracy

• Political parties were weak, corrupt, and dominated by business elites

• Manchurian success encouraged the military to act independently

• Assassination of politicians showed growing sympathy for militarist radicals

What was the Kodoha

a political faction that believed in

1. Expansion

2. Totalitarians

3. Imperialism

popilar among young, radical officers, especially in the army

Why was the league so weak against Japan in Manchuria

• No one bothered to go and fight, as too far

• UK worried about colonies

• US not part of league, not point in sanction as they had most powerful eccon

• Lytton report and lack of response show ‘hollowness of collective security’, and it was produced after 7 months, very slow

Reasons for Invading Abyssinia

• Mussolini wanted to recreate the Roman empire

• Abyssinia defeated Italy in 1896 (6000 Italian killed)

• Itay wanted own raw materials which Abyssinia had

• Italy wanted fertile land from Abyssinia

• Instill a sense of national pride and distract people from the effects of depression

When was Abyssinia Crisis

1935-1936

How did the leauge respond to the crisis?

• condemed it

• and sanctions which took 6 weeks to organinse for textiles and gold

• no mineral or oil sancrtioned

• 3 L member did not carry out

• no sanction for oil as Italy could just get if from the US

• UK did not close off the Suez as they feared Italian navy - Gebralta and Malta

Why was the response to Abyssinia half hearted?

• UK and France feared the Italian Navy

• UK fears that Italy might threaten the Suez

• UK and Italy too far

• and if they impose oil sanctions, Italy will just buy from US

Hoare Laval Plan

• planed to give 2/3 Abyssinia to Italy, and King Selassie would get mountainous bits

• south of the country would be reserved for italian business

• the plan was leaked and Hoare and Laval sacked

• this is a big problem, because the leading members of the league looked to give land to agresser

• Haore (UK foreign minister)

• Laval (French PM)

When was Manchuria and what

September 18, 1931

Kwantung Army Blew up South Manchurian Railway and blame Chinese

Kwantung army did not recieve permission to invade

lytton report 7 months

and by 1933 they taken all 3 north eastern provinces in China

the Chinese north eastern army’s commander Marshall Zhang adopted a non resistiance policy directed by Centeral Gov by Genralissimo Chaing Kai Shek

however indvidual Gen such as Ma Zhanshan
the Chairman of Helongjian province continued to resist

What is collective security?

• Collective security is the idea that all countries should work together to protect each other and deter aggression.

• The victim reports the aggressor to the League of Nations, and the Council decides what action to take.

• Action can include independent member states committing troops, imposing economic sanctions, or issuing a moral condemnation.

• The goal is to maintain international peace by making aggression unprofitable and isolating the aggressor.

• It relies on the cooperation of all member states; if they refuse to act, collective security fails.

What was the young plan and its effect on Stresseman

fact to support this

reduced rep payment and established an end date

passed the reichstage by 2 vote

Stresseman’s nail in the coffin

What were some of the effects of the reperation

think how they payed it

and so the effect of it

pay it through printing paper

first isntallment 250 mil in 1923 was paided by paper printing

hyperinflation

real wages decreased

the supply of paper money increased, but the supply of precouse metal did not

backed by less real value

confidence dropped

What happened in the Rhur

passive ressitance from the miners

france shoot civillians who refused to cooperate

some individuals did choose to attack and sabotage

germany only ever paid one installment so the French attacked the Rhur

France is humilliated in the long term

What was cherryblosom society

What the Cherry Blossom Society was

• A militarist secret society formed in 1930

• Led and funded by Colonel Kingorō Hashimoto

• Made up of young, radical army officers

• Wanted to overthrow party politicians and replace them with a military‑led government

• Believed Japan had been betrayed by weak civilian leaders and humiliated by the West

• Tried to organise military coups (1931 and 1932), though both failed

• Spread ultranationalist, anti‑democratic ideology inside the army

• Encouraged officers to act independently “for the Emperor,” even without government approval

Argument for if Abassynia was the event that destroyed the L as an effective peacekeeping body

they demonstrate the hollowness of collective security

it was that when they offered a plan

How many L members did not implement sacntions agianst Italy

• 3

how long did the sacntions take to organise

6 wks

What was not sanbctioned aginst itally and why

• no mineral or oil

• as they could get from us who was not part of the L

How did the L initally repsond to Abyssiuna

condem

what did UK not do in ralshaon to Abyssni and why

• UK did not close off the Suez as they feared Italian navy - Gebralta and Malta