League of Nations

• What were the main goals of the League of Nations (LoN)?

  • To increase international cooperation and prevent war.
  • To encourage disarmament among member nations.
  • To improve living and working conditions globally.
  • To provide a platform for resolving disputes peacefully.
• When did the League of Nations come into existence?

  The League of Nations came into existence on 10th January 1920.
• What was Article 5 of the League of Nations about?

  Article 5 stated that no decisions could be made unless all countries agreed on it.
• Why was the absence of the USA significant for the League of Nations?

  The USA's absence limited the League's power and made other countries doubtful of its success.
• Which countries had permanent seats in the League of Nations?

  Britain, France, Italy, and Japan had permanent seats in the League of Nations.
• What was the role of the Council in the League of Nations?

  The Council was smaller than the Assembly and aimed to resolve disputes through discussion and various powers.
• What were the main components of the League of Nations' structure?

  • **The Council:** Smaller group resolving disputes.
  • **The Assembly:** League's parliament with representatives from all countries.
  • **The Secretariat:** Civil service maintaining records and reports.
  • **Permanent Court of International Justice:** Settling disputes peacefully.
  • **International Labour Organisation (ILO):** Improving workers' conditions.
  • **Mandate Commission:** Reporting on conditions in mandates.
  • **Refugees Committee:** Assisting displaced persons.
  • **Slavery Commission:** Working to abolish slavery.
  • **Health Committee:** Addressing health issues and diseases.
• How successful was the Refugee Organisation of the League of Nations?

  The Refugee Organisation helped 425,000 displaced people and was considered a logistical success, but faced funding issues.
• What achievements did the Health Organisation of the League of Nations accomplish?

  The Health Organisation prevented a typhus epidemic in Siberia and created vaccines for various diseases.
• What was the main limitation of the International Labour Organisation (ILO)?

  The ILO could only recommend actions, which member states could easily ignore.
• What was the outcome of the Disarmament Commission of the League of Nations?

  The Disarmament Commission could only recommend actions, which were often ignored, damaging the League's reputation.
• How did the League of Nations handle disputes in the 1920s?

  • **Vilna, 1920:** Failure; Poland took control despite League protests.
  • **Upper Silesia, 1921:** Success; plebiscite led to a fair division of the region.
  • **Aaland Islands, 1921:** Success; avoided war by giving islands to Finland.
  • **Corfu, 1923:** Failure; Mussolini's actions undermined the League's authority.
• What was the Geneva Protocol of 1924 and its outcome?

  The Geneva Protocol aimed to strengthen the League by requiring countries to accept its verdicts, but it failed due to Britain's election results.
• What date did Mussolini withdraw from Corfu triumphantly?

  27th September
• What was the outcome of the Corfu incident in terms of casualties?

  15 people were killed, indicating the situation had escalated.
• How did the League of Nations' decision regarding the Corfu incident affect its credibility?

  It showed a double standard in rules for big powers versus smaller states, undermining the League's credibility.
• What was the purpose of the Geneva Protocol established in 1924?


  To ensure that if two countries disagreed, they would accept the League of Nations' verdict.
• Why did the Geneva Protocol fail to be implemented?

  A general election in Britain led to a conservative government that opposed signing it.
• What was the outcome of the Greek invasion of Bulgaria in 1925?

  The League condemned Greece and ordered it to withdraw and pay compensation, but it highlighted unequal treatment of states.
• What were the key events and outcomes of the Washington Conference in 1921?

  • Organized by the USA, ignoring the League of Nations.
  • Aimed to limit tensions in the Pacific, particularly with Japan.
  • Resulted in naval agreements: USA and Britain had equal-sized navies, Japan limited to 3/5ths.
  • Made the world safer by reducing the chance of conflict.
  • Weakened the League as it was not part of the League's efforts.
• What was the significance of the Rapallo Treaty signed in 1922?

  • Established friendly relations between Germany and the USSR.
  • Allowed Germany to secretly rearm, violating the Treaty of Versailles.
  • Made the world less safe by strengthening Germany.
  • Weakened the League as it showed Germany's disregard for the Treaty of Versailles.
• What were the main features of the Dawes Plan in 1924?

  • Aimed to restructure German reparations.
  • Payments started at 1 billion gold marks, rising to 2.5 billion by 1928.
  • Included an initial American loan of 800 million marks.
  • Made the world safer by reducing tensions and suffering in Germany.
  • Strengthened the League by improving relations with Germany.
• What was the purpose of the Locarno Pact in 1925?

  • Germany, France, and Belgium accepted their post-Versailles borders.
  • France withdrew troops from the Rhineland.
  • Britain and Italy guaranteed the agreement.
  • Made the world safer by reducing tensions and fostering peace.
  • Strengthened the League by promoting cooperation among members.
• When did Germany join the League of Nations?

  1926
• What was the impact of Germany joining the League of Nations?

  It made the world safer as Germany had to abide by League rules and was viewed as an equal.
• What was the Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928?

  • Condemned war as a means of resolving disputes.
  • Countries agreed to settle conflicts by peaceful means.
  • Lacked real obligations or enforcement mechanisms.
  • Made the world safer by promoting peace, but was largely symbolic.
  • Strengthened the League by showing a commitment to peace among members.
• What was the Young Plan of 1929?

  • Further reduced German reparations from the Dawes Plan.
  • Aimed to address German complaints about reparations.
  • Ultimately failed due to the Wall Street Crash and Great Depression.
  • Made the world less safe as it increased tensions over unpaid reparations.
  • Weakened the League as it showed its inability to enforce agreements.
• Who was Gustav Stresemann?

  The Chancellor of Germany in 1923 and foreign minister from 1923-1929.