Conflict and Tension

• The aim of the LON was to keep peace.
• All members of the LON had to sign the Covenant, which was a set of 26 Articles or laws that members had to agree to follow.
• Collective security was an article that said all members of the LON would act together to ensure any member threatened with war, would be protected by the other members.
• LON settling a dispute step 1:


  The disputing members agreed to go to the League to discuss the problem. Talks not force. The aggressor should be condemned and hopefully they would then feel guilty and back down.
• LON settling a dispute step 2:


  If condemning did not work, economic sanctions were to be imposed - cutting off trade with the aggressor.
• LON settling a dispute step 3:


  Members of the League should join forces and take military action against the aggressor. (Collective Security)
• Every country sent a representative to the Assembly. It met once a year at the League's headquarters in Geneva. They fixed the League's budget.
• The Secretariat was like the League's civil service. They kept records of meetings and prepared reports.

  Many of their staff were linguists.
• The International Court of Peace was intended to settle disputes peacefully.

  It was based at The Hague.

  It was made up of judges from member countries.
• The council was a smaller group that met several times a year and for emergencies. In 1920 its members were Britain, France, Italy and Japan. It also included non-permanent members elected by the Assembly for three-year periods. Decisions had to be unanimous.
• Initially 42 countries joined the LON and by the 1930's this had become 59.

  Defeated countries were not allowed to join at first, nor was Russia because it was Communist.
• The LON was the idea of Woodrow Wilson of USA - but

  USA did not join - which weakened the League.
• Why did USA not join the LON?


  • Many Americans hated the idea of the League and did not want to be involved in it
  • European affairs
  • Wilson campaigned to get USA to join but lost the Presidential Election
  • USA followed an isolationist policy in the 1920's
  • USA did not want American troops to be under the control of an outside power.
• The LON did not have an army which caused it to be very weak as they couldn’t enforce laws.
• Vilna 1920


  Capital city of Lithuania. The majority of people were Polish and a Polish army took control. Lithuania asked the League for help and they told Poland to leave. They refused and kept Vilna.
• Upper Silesia 1921


  On the border of Germany and Poland. Both countries wanted it for its iron and steel. A plebiscite was held and 60% voted for Germany. However the rural areas were given to Germany and Poland the industrial areas. Neither side was happy but had to accept it.
• Åaland Islands 1921


  Both Sweden and Finland claimed the islands and were threatening war. The League investigated and gave it to Finland but no forts were allowed. Sweden agreed.
• Corfu 1923


  An Italian surveyor Tellini and his team were murdered on the border between Greece and Albania. Mussolini blamed Greece, demanded compensation and invaded Corfu. The League made Greece apologise and pay Italy compensation.
• Bulgaria 1925


  Greek soldiers were killed on the Bulgarian border. Greece invaded but the League condemned them, made them withdraw and pay compensation to Bulgaria.
• Wall Street Crash 1929


  The American Stock Market crashed. The US had lent money to many countries around the world and wanted the money back. This led to a global depression. Some people turned to extremists.
• Who was involved in the Locarno treaties?


  France and Germany represented by their foreign ministers - Briand and Stresemann
• When and where was the Locarno Treaties?


  1925 Locarno, Switzerland
• What was the Locarno Treaties?


  France and Germany (enemies) agreed to work together peacefully.

  Germany accepted the terms of the TOV.

  Other countries like Britain and Italy signed.

  Each country agreed not to go to war with each other, if one country broke the treaties the others would support the country that was invaded.
• Why wasn’t the LON involved in the Locarno Treaties?


  As Germany suggested the treaties and it was not a member of the LON.
• Why were the Locarno Treaties significant?


  • It seemed that Germany was accepting the TOV, especially the terms about territory and was trying to become a peaceful nation.

  • Relationships between countries, especially France and Germany improved. This paved the way to Germany being allowed to join the LON.

  • The LON should have been leading the way on such an important agreement, especially since it involved 2 of the LON's powerful members, Britain and France.
• Who was involved in the Kellogg-Briand pact?


  65 countries including France, Germany and the USA.
• When and where was the Kellogg-Briand pact?


  1928 in Paris.
• What was the Kellogg-Briand pact?


  All countries agreed war would not be used to solve disputes between them.
• Why wasn’t the LON involved in the Kellogg-Briand pact?


  As Germany and USA were not members of the LON.
• Why was the Kellogg-Briand pact significant?


  The fact that the LON was not involved made it look like it was a place to talk, not for actual solutions, and this damaged its reputation.
• Washington Arms conference 


  • 1921 - 1922
  • Major countries like Britain, USA, Japan and France agreed the maximum size of their navies.
  • LON was not the one pushing for disarmament and countries like GB and France attended independently of the LON.
• Rappello Treaty


  • 1922
  • Germany and Russia agreed to work together.
  • The LON was not involved as Germany and Russia were not members of the LON.
• The LON was set up to encourage cooperation between countries to stop war. Therefore, you would expect the LON to be involved in all major international discussions, conferences and agreements. However - this did not always happen - the LON was left out of some major international agreements.
• When was the Manchuria Crisis?


  1931 - 1932
• Manchuria Crisis - Excuse for the invasion


  • In September 1931 there was an explosion on the South Manchurian Railway just outside the city of Mukden.
  • The Japanese owned this railway and said that it was sabotaged by the Chinese. (In fact, the explosion was caused by the Japanese)
  • They used this as an excuse to invade Manchuria with their troops.
  • Soon they took over all of Manchuria and renamed it Manchuko.
  • They put the deposed last emperor of China, Pu Vi in control as a puppet ruler.
• Why did Japan invade Manchuria?


  • Japan was suffering from the Depression and the military leaders felt that invasion would solve economic problems.
  • Japan had a large population and wanted more living space.
  • Japan wanted more raw materials such as rubber, coal and iron.
  • China was weak as it was fighting a civil war.
  • Japan had interests in Manchuria - the railway.
  • Japan argued Manchuria would act as a buffer againstUSSR and communism.
  • Japan was in the control of military leaders who felt war would make Japan stronger.
• Manchuria - LON involvement


  • China and Japan were both members of the League of Nations.
  • China appealed to the League for help.
  • The League condemned Japan's actions and told them to withdraw their troops. The Japanese did not do this.
  • The League then set up the Lytton Commission to look into the crisis, which took almost a year.
  • The Lytton Report found Japan guilty of forcibly seizing part of China's territory. China was asked to return Manchuria. Japan refused and kept the land.
  • Japan then went on to attack other areas of China taking over Jehol.
  • Japan left the League in 1933.
• Manchuria crisis - consequences 


  • The LON was seen as weak, didn’t use military action. The Members hadn’t followed the procedures set by the Covenant and hadn’t imposed economic sanctions.
  • The Great Powers had not wanted to take military action in case Japan attacked their colonies in the Far East. Britain and France had put "self interest" first.
  • The Lytton Report was seen as "face saving"
  • The world learnt that aggression paid -Mussolini invaded Abyssinia in 1935
  • Japan withdrew from the LON and eventually drew closer to the dictators Mussolini and Hitler.
• Why did the members of the LON not impose economic sanctions after the Manchuria crisis?


  As they didn’t want to lose further trade in the time of Depression.
• Manchuria crisis - why the LON failed


  • By the time the Lytton Report was finished, Japan was in control of Manchuria.
  • LON did not want to commit resources to dealing with the issues there as it was far away and not vital to European countries.
  • USA continued to trade with aggressors as they weren’t a member of the LON.
  • Britain and France “self-interest” - no milItary action in case Japan attacked them.
  • Depression damaging world trade - LON members unwilling to impose economic sanctions.
  • No military action as too expensive and unpopular with the public.