UNIT 2

• Memberships of the LoN

  As the USA was absent, Britain and France were the most powerful nations
• Permanent Members of the Council

  Britian, France, Japan and Italy.
• Germany in the LoN

  Germany was not allowed to join until 1926 as it needed to prove it was a peaceful nation
• Any action done by the LoN needed the French and British support, however these two nations were severley weakend by the First world war and were unable to fill the gap left by the USA.
• The Council

  A group of nations smaller than the assembly that met 5 times a year or in times of emergency. It's membership consisted of permanent members and temporary members. Temporary members were elected by the assembly for 3 year terms. Each member had a veto that would stop a decision even if everyone else agreed. It's main aim was to solve disputes through talking. However they could also result to financial sanctions and military force.
• Why did USA not join the LoN

  In March 1920, Wilson went back to congress arguing that if USA did not get involved in international affairs another war would occur, However, the Republicans argued that America should follow isolationism meaning that they would not get involved in international aliances to follow its self interest. Despite all this, the USA never ended up joining the LoN contributing to its failure.
• Why did the USSR not join the LoN

  The USSR was prevented from joining the LoN until 1934 as many membering states including Britain and France did not trust communist states.
• Aims of British Politicains

  • Rebuilding British Trade
  • Looking after the British empire
• French Aims

  • Main Concern was still Germany. It was worried that the LoN was too weak to protect France.
  • Bypass the LoN if necessary to strenghten its position against Germany
• 1921 Washington Conference 


  USA, Britain, France and Japan agree to limit navy size
• 1922 Rapallo Treaty 


  USSR and Germany reestablish Diplomatic relations
• 1924 Dawes Plan 


  The USA lent money to the Germans in order to help pay its reperation bill
• 1925 Locarno Treaty


  Germany accepted its western borders as set out in the ToV. This paved the way for Germany to join the LoN.
• 1928 Kellogg Briand Pact 


  65 Nations agreed not to use force to settle disputes. This is also known as the pact of paris.
• 1929 Young Plan 


  Reduction of Germanys reperation payments
• Polish Lithuanian Dispute 1920-1929 


  On the 7th of OCtober 1920 Vilna a city of mostly Polish speaking people became the new seat of the Lithuanian Government. Just two days later the polish annexed the city. Lithuanians appealed to the LoN and the LoN ordered the Poles to retreat and wait for a plebecite. However the Poles refused to do so and the LoN was powerless to stop the conflict. Aditionally, Britian and France werent ready to start a war and they wanted to keep good relations with Poland
• Aaland Islands 1921


  A small island located between Finland and Sweeden. The territory was originaly Finnish but the islands population was mostly Sweedish. Many islanders wanted indipendance from the Fins almost starting a conflict between the two nations. The LoN investigated and gave the island to the Fins but ordered them to remove military troops to ensure the safety of the Swedish Population. Both nations agreed to this offer making this a sucess.
• Bulgaria 1925


  In October of 1925 Greek troops entered Bulgaria after a border incident where Greek soldiers were killed. Bulgaria appealed to the LoN for help. The LoN acted fast calling for a meeting in Paris ordering the Greeks to withdraw. Aditionally, observers were sent to analyse the damage. The observers came up with a sum of 45 Thousand in reperations for the Bulgarians. The LoN threatend the Greeks if they did not pay the sum with sanctions. The Greeks complied making this the biggest sucess of the LoN
• Disarmament Conference

  After Manchuria the long promised Disarmament COnference began. By 1932 it made resolutions to prohibit bombing of civilians, limiting altilery size, limit on tank tonnage and limiting chemical warfare. But, there was little in resolutions to show how these limits would be achieved.
• German Disarmament

  • Germany proposed to all countries to disarm to a similar level. When the conference failed to agree the Germans walked out. An agreement was finally reached to treat the Germans with equality allowing them to come back to the conference. Hitler proposed to not rearm Germany if every other nations destroyed its arms. Britain created a plan of disarmament but failed to achieve support during the conference. Finally, Hitler withdrew Germany from the disarmament conference in October 1933 and soon after from the LoN.
• Manchurian Crisis - Invasion ONE + Lytton Report 


  In 1931, a Incident in Manchuria occured on the Japanese controlled Railway. THis incident was used as a exucse for the japanese to invade and set up a government in Manchuria. As a response, the Chinese appealed to the LoN and the LoN faced a serious challange as japan was one of the LoNs leading members. A Investigation began conducted by Lord Lytton and his comission. It took them almost a year to present the report in September 1932. It was detailed and balanced and had a clear outline that Japan had to return macnhuria to the Chinese.
• Manchurian Crisis - Invasion TWO + Response of LoN

  However, in February 1933 instead of withdrawing the Japanese announced they will invade more of China as it was necessary for self defense. On the 24th February 1933 the report was approved by the Assembly with only Japan voting against. As a result of this Japan left the LoN on the 27th of March 1933. The LoN was powerless to do anything, it discussed sanctions but as the USA was Japans main trading partner those sanctions would be meaningless. The LoN try banning arms sale but this didnt work as nations were afraid this would escalate.
• Consequences of Manchuria

  The LoN made exuses for their failure. Many people poitned out how the LoN was powerless when dealing with powerfull nations. This would also contribute to Musolinis invasion of Abyssinia and Hitelrs remilitarisation of the Rhineland.
• Phase 1 of the Abyssinian crisis

  Britain and France failed to take the situation seriously. They wanted to desperatley keep a good relation with Mussolini who seamed to be a strong ally against Hitler. They signed a agreement in 1935 known as the Stressa Pact wich was a commitment to stand united against German rearmament. The LoN attempted to appease Mossolini by giving him a plan that allowed him to have some of Abyssinia but he rejected it.
• Phase 2 of the Abyssinian Crisis

  In October of 1935 Mussolini launched a full scale invasion of Abyssinia. The Abyssinians were no match for the modern Italian Army. This was a case of a powerful nation attacking a smaller nation, a situation the LoN was made for. The LoN set up a committe to agree on what sanctions to impose as sacntions would only work if they were imposed quickly and disisevley.
• Sanctions of the Abyssinian Crisis

  The LoN banned arms sale to italy, banned loans to Italy, Banned imports to italy. It also banned exports of rubber tin and metals. However, the LoN delayed the sanction of oil by two months as they were afraid the Americans wouldnt support the sanctions. The League also feeared it could impact its economic interests. Most importantly, the Suez Canal was not closed for the Italians by the British and the French as they were afraid that closing it could of started war with Italy.
• Hoare Laval Pact 1935


  While sanction discussions were taking place British and French foreign minsters offered Mussolini two thirds off Abyssinia if the Italians called of the invasion. However, details were leaked to the French press proving very disasterous to the league as its reputation declined.
• Outcomes of the Abyssinian Crisis

  On the 7th of March 1936, Hitler timing his move perfectly marched his troops into the Rhineland wich was a act prohibited by the ToV. The French tried desperatly to gain Italian support. Italy continued the defy LoNs orders and by May 1936 the Italians Annexed the nation. These events proved collective security was a empty promise. The British and French hoped that the handling of the crisis could strengthenen their position against Germany, however they were wrong as in 1936 Mussolini and Hitler signed their own agreement called the Rome Berlin Axis.
• Refugees - Humanitarian work

  
  

  • First few years of the post war, it is estimated that the committe helped 400,000 people return to their homes.
  • After the war many people were displaced
  • However, it was always short of funds and its work became more difficult in 1930s as international situations tensed
• Working Conditions - Humanitarian Work done by LoN

  • Succeeded in banning poisonous white lead from paint and limited work hours for children.
  • Campaigned to improve working conditions. However, many organisations refused to addapt their suggestions as they believed it would cost them too much
• Health - Humanitarian Work

  • Sponsored research into infectious desieses institues helping the development of vaccines and medicines to fight malaria. The HC was on of the most successful as it continued to work after 1945 as the WHO.
• Slavery + Forced Labour - Humanitarian Work done by LoN

  • Freed 200,000 slaves in Sierra Leone.
  • Organised raids against slave owners in Burma
  • Challanged the use of slavery to construct the Tangomgak railway in Africa where death was 50% certain. The pressure by the league brought it down to 4%