International Relations

• World War One ended, and the victorious countries, led by Britain, France and the USA, met in Paris to discuss the future of Germany and other Defeated powers


  1919
• Woodrow Wilson


  USA wanted a new era of international cooperation, disarmament and freedom for all countries. This also meant the dismantling of the British Empire. The world should be controlled by a new League of Nations.
• Georges Clemenceau


  France wanted to punish Germany for starting the war and to make Germany pay reparations.
• David Lloyd-George


  Britain wanted to help Germany rebuild so it could be a strong trading partner and then pay reparations. Wanted the British Empire to remain strong.
• Wilson's 14 Points


  • No secret treaties
  • Free trade
  • Disarmament
  • League of Nations
• Germany had to sign the war guilt clause
• Germany thought they had not lost but agreed to an armistice
• Germany was angry they were not represented at peace talks
• Germany thought all countries should share the blame
• Germany thought it was unfair that no victorious countries reduced their arms
• Germany was humiliated to not be in the league of nations and it seemed hypocritical to not include everyone as it was meant to include everyone
• Germany's huge reparations caused outrage
• Austria was forbidden to unite with Germany, limited to 30,000 men in their army and the Austro-Hungarian empire was broken up
• Turkey lost lands to Italy and Greece and armed forces were limited. They lost most of their empire and used power to reverse some of the terms.
• League of Nations


  Designed to solve international disputes without war, reflected in the covenant signed by all members
• Initial League of Nations members

  • 44 countries
  • Council of 4 permanent members (UK, France, Italy, Japan)
• The USA did not join the League of Nations due to isolationism, as they did not want to share wealth or their army
• The League of Nations was more successful than unsuccessful, despite its obvious flaws, as it kept four of the most powerful countries at peace which helped prevent big wars
• The League of Nations solved many disputes such as between Germany and Poland
• Principles of the League of Nations

  • Avoid making secret treaties
  • Obey international laws and treaties
• Powers of the League of Nations

  • Disputes between countries were intended to be settled by the League's decisions
  • Countries who acted aggressively could be punished by economic sanctions
• The League of Nations never had its own army, thus lacked power to enforce its decisions
• Germany was not initially allowed to join the League of Nations
• The Refugee and health Committees were successful in tackling global problems
• The Declaration of the Rights of the Child was a positive achievement
• The financial Committee helped to boost economic growth
• Many of the League of Nations' functions laid the basis for the United Nations when it was set up in 1945
• Border dispute between Germany and Poland over Upper Silesia in 1921


  The League saw a peaceful vote, known as a plebiscite deal, and divided the nation between the two areas
• Border dispute between Sweden and Finland in 1921


  Sweden accepted the League's ruling that the islands belonged to Finland
• Italian invasion of Corfu in 1923


  France and Britain could not decide what to do as they both wanted revenge, but they supported Italy as it was a permanent member of the League of Nations
• Border dispute between Greece and Bulgaria in 1925


  The League demanded both sides back down and Britain and France backed this. Greece obeyed but pointed out the difference in treatment.
• The League of Nations was not successful at having disarmament in the 1920s as no countries disarmed
• The Dawes Plan 1924 and the Young Plan 1929 tried to help rebuild Germany's army economy and were successful in the 1920s
• The Locarno Treaty 1925 aimed to agree Germany's borders and was partially successful in the 1920s in the West, but not in the east
• The Kellogg-Briand pact in 1928 aimed to renounce war and was successful in the 1920s
• The Wall Street Crash in the USA in 1929 led to a worldwide economic depression, unemployment and poverty
• Desperate measures taken during the Great Depression

  • Protectionism - countries introduced taxes on imported goods to protect their own industries
  • Rearmament - making lots of military equipment to reduce unemployment
  • US loans cancelled - helped lead to a Nazi government in Germany
• Nazi policies that led to increased international tension

  • Increased armies and rearmament
  • Isolationism and got rid of Treaty of Versailles
  • State control of industry and projects
  • Attempted to destroy communism
• Mussolini's fascist policies that increased international tension

  • Wanted Africa to be like the Roman empire
  • Tried to build alliance with Germany
• Soviet Union policies that increased international tension

  • Communism and tried to make everywhere communistic
  • Built up military strength as they saw Germany and Italy as a threat
  • Bad international relations