disarmament

• background info

  • ToV said all countries must disarm to 'lowest point consistent with national security' but only Germany disarmed
  • could only organise conference in 1932
  • small victory in washington 1921 where 5 countries agreed to limit navies, but no punishment if they broke agreement
  • Germany angry and brought suspicion to World Armaments Conference in 1932
• why did LoN fail with disarmament

  • great depression: countries were scared of threats from other countries (e.g rearming germany) so built their arms
  • japan's actions: lack of faith in LoN preventing aggression due to futility with Japan @ Manchuria, and Japan was increasing army which influenced others to
  • france's insecurities: france willing to disarm if US and Britain signed a treaty, but they were unwilling, Germany - under Hitler - exploited this, rearmed and left Lon
• germany's fault

  • after germany joined LoN in 1926, the ToV seemed increasingly unfair
  • not sure if germany should rearm or everyone else should disarm
  • hitler comes to power and wants to destroy the treaty so others didn't want to disarm
  • he said no other country disarmed as agreed and germany had the right to be able to defend themselves if no one else disarmed
  • france refused to disarm, hitler withdrew from LoN and disarmament conference in 1933