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30 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
- 3rd side (hint)
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Why did the LofN fail in its aims to keep peace?
The structure of the League |
Assembly – Council – Secretariat
Permanent Court Of International Justice International Labour Organisation Commissions for: Disarmament/Mandates/Health/Refugees/Slavery |
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Why did the LofN fail in its aims to keep peace?
How was it supposed to keep peace? |
Under article 16 of the LofN, collective security would be maintained by
(1) condemning acts of aggression against member countries (2) imposing economic sanctions (3) using military force against aggressor |
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Why did the LofN fail in its aims to keep peace?
The League’s powers in practice |
It had no armed forces of its own – relied largely on GB & France who didn’t want to fight other peoples’ wars
(cost was too great – especially during the depression of the 30s) Economic sanctions – v. difficult to enforce. League was regarded by many in Britain as a ‘talking shop’ and not taken seriously. |
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Why did the LofN fail in its aims to keep peace?
The problem of non-membership |
USA never joined (isolationism) & without most powerful nation, authority of LofN was greatly undermined
USSR (Russia) did not join until 1934 when Stalin was worried about Hitler – in the 20s GB & France saw communism as the great evil in the world – Soviets saw LofN as capitalist club Germany not admitted until 1926 |
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Why did the LofN fail in its aims to keep peace?
The League in crisis: Manchuria & Abyssinia |
In 1931 the Japanese army conquered Chinese province of Manchuria
In 1935, Italian dictator, Mussolini, invaded Abyssinia The LofN failed to stand up to these acts of aggression |
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Test yourself on the structure of the League
The Assembly |
The debating chamber of the League
Membership of 42 countries (1920) Only met once year Elected four temporary members of the council |
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Test yourself on the structure of the League
The Council |
Met up to 3 times a year and in times of emergency
Made up of 5 permanent (GB/Fr/Japan/Italy & Germany from ’26) and 4 temporary members Decided sanctions etc when there was a crisis Each member had the power of veto |
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Test yourself on the structure of the League
The Secretariat |
The civil service of the League
Carried out administration |
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Test yourself on the structure of the League
The Permanent Court of International Justice |
Based at the Hague in Holland
It would be consulted when there were disputes between nations and give legal advice on treaties between nations |
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Test yourself on the structure of the League
The ILO & League of Nations Commissions |
The International Labour Organization was set up to improve working conditions
The Mandates Commission was established to ensure that Germany’s former colonies were properly governed by GB & Fr and would eventually achieve self-determination Refugee Commission tackled refugee crisis after WWI Slavery Commission worked to counter slave trade The World Health Organization was set up to counter the spread of dangerous diseases |
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Test yourself on the crucial problem of membership:
The USA |
USA was not willing to follow Wilson’s idealism
Congress rejected the Treaty of Versailles and with election of Republican President Harding pursued policy of isolationism... Greatly undermined League USA continued to trade with Italy after economic sanctions were imposed following the invasion of Abyssinia. |
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Test yourself on the crucial problem of membership:
Britain & France |
As a consequence of USA’s non-membership, GB & Fr became the key powers in the League
Both were severely weakened economically by WWI and depression Unwilling to play proactive role in enforcing authority of the League through force |
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Test yourself on the crucial problem of membership:
Germany |
Not allowed to join until improved international relations of mid-1920s
Joined as permanent member of the Council in 1926 Germany’s absence until 1926 reinforced idea that League was ‘club of victors’ Germany left after Hitler came to power in 1933 |
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Test yourself on the crucial problem of membership:
Russia |
Was excluded from international community after revolution
GB & France wanted to have nothing to do with communism Things changed when Hitler came to power and Stalin wanted security – joined in 1934 |
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Test yourself on the crucial problem of membership:
Japan & Italy |
Japan left in 1933 after Manchurian crisis
Italy left in 1937 after the League’s economic sanctions failed to force her out of Abyssinia. |
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The first major failure: Manchurian crisis 1931
Why did Japan invade? |
Japan had been badly hit by depression – her exports had fallen by 50%
Japan was overpopulated – needed living space and raw materials Manchuria belonged to China which was v. weak (civil war) Japan already ran the Manchurian railway and had troops there Japanese army wanted aggressive policy |
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The first major failure: Manchurian crisis 1931
The Mukden incident & invasion |
18 Sept 1931: there was staged explosion on railway near city of Mukden
Japanese claimed it was Chinese sabotage Japanese military used this as excuse to take over Manchuria (without permission from Japanese government which was losing control to the army) |
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The first major failure: Manchurian crisis 1931
The reaction of the League of Nations |
The League condemned Japan’s actions
Japanese government agreed to withdrawal but army refused Lytton Commission appointed to investigate – took year to report – by which time the invasion was complete and Japan had left the League League invited Japan to withdraw! |
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The first major failure: Manchurian crisis 1931
Why the League of Nations failed |
Unwilling to impose economic sanctions - they might further damage world trade (in Depression)
Unwilling to take military action (GB feared Japan might attack her colonies) USA not interested. |
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The first major failure: Manchurian crisis 1931
The consequences |
Undermined League – aggression had paid off
Set example for other dictators to follow Japan left League and eventually allied with Germany & Italy |
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The Failure of The League: Abyssinian Crisis 1935/6
Why did Italy invade? |
Depression hit Italy hard – Mussolini hoped that conquest would distract Italian people
Italy had small empire in N-E Africa – Mussolini wanted to expand it and avenge humiliation in Abyssinia in 1896. |
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The Failure of The League: Abyssinian Crisis 1935/6
The invasion |
December 1934 – Italian forces staged incident at Wal Wal
This was used as excuse for full invasion in October 1935 Italian air force used poison gas in attack |
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The Failure of The League: Abyssinian Crisis 1935/6
The reaction of the League of Nations |
Emperor Haile Selassie appealed to League for help
League condemned invasion & imposed economic sanctions In Dec 1935 the Hoare-Laval pact was drawn up by GB & France – large areas of best land in Abyssinia would be given to Mussolini This caused public outcry in Britain |
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The Failure of The League: Abyssinian Crisis 1935/6
Why the League of Nations failed |
Economic sanctions didn’t work (didn’t include oil, coal and iron – USA & Germany continued to trade with Italy)
GB & France desperately didn’t want to lose Mussolini as an ally but they did anyway Not prepared to use military force over African state |
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The Failure of The League: Abyssinian Crisis 1935/6
The consequences |
Final nail in the coffin for the credibility of the League
Mussolini now allied himself with Hitler (Rome-Berlin axis 1936) Clear now to Hitler that GB & France would not stand up to acts of aggression |
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Revise the big causes of LofN failure:
Organization |
League did not meet frequently enough
Delayed responses to crises |
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Revise the big causes of LofN failure:
Membership |
USA did not join
Germany joined in 1926 / left in 1933 Japan left in 1933 and Italy left in 1937 The USSR did not join until 1934 and was expelled in 1939 |
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Revise the big causes of LofN failure:
Sanctions did not work |
Countries were reluctant to impose sanctions during the Great Depression for fear of damaging trade further
Non-members like USA and Germany continued to trade when sanctions were imposed on Italy |
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Revise the big causes of LofN failure:
The League lacked military organization |
No LofN army
Major powers were unwilling to bear the cost of using their own armed forces |
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Revise the big causes of LofN failure:
Self-interest undermined the League |
League was prepared to stand up to minor powers in 1920s but when it came to the crunch in the 1930s, Britain was more worried about her colonies than the fate of Manchuria
GB and France did not want to lose Mussolini as an ally in 1935 |
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