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THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS NOTES: COLLECTIVE SECURITY: An attack by an aggressor nation on another would be viewed as an attack on all member nations. League of Nations The League of Nations was an international organization established on January 25, 1919 by part I of the Treaty of Versailles, founded with the intention of reducing armaments, settling disputes between countries and maintaining living conditions. This was largely motivated by the bloodshed during World War I. While the League failed to prevent World War II, it was successful in dealing with minor conflicts throughout the 1920s. The League held its first meeting on January 10, 1920 and on the same day ratified the Treaty of Versailles thus officially ending World War I. The first general assembly of the League was held in Geneva on November 15, 1920. Reasons for perceiving the League as a failure It lacked any armed forces. – NO ARMY Unanimous vote was required. Major countries not included. Even though President Woodrow Wilson had been a driving force behind the League of Nations, the United States never joined, after its Senate refused to ratify the Treaty of Versailles and on January 19, 1919 voted not to join the League. Italy and Japan began as permanent members, but left in 1937 and 1932, respectively. Germany was only a member between 1926 and 1933. The USSR joined in 1934; it was expelled for aggression in 1939 when it invaded Finland. Self-interest of most-important members. – Britain and France ran the show! Economic Sanctions were ineffective – did not use them on Manchuria, tried the on Italy. NOTES: THE SEARCH FOR SECURITY IN EUROPE REPARATIONS AND WAR DEBTS Background: During the 1920”s and 30’s an effort was made to ensure a lasting peace. BUT: * USA - isolationist attitude * Britain - some sympathy for Germany * France - keep Germany weak and poor * USSR - consumed by internal problems, suspicious of capitalists Germany – Versailles resentment and reparations/ war debts further problem Definitions: Reparations: Money owed by Germany to Allies for damages caused. $33 Billion War Debts: Money owed by Allies to each other. USA only creditor would not cancel. In order for the USA to collect, Germany must pay reparations. Sequence: 1922 – In economic ruin, Germany defaults and asks for a 3-year suspension, Britain agrees, France and Belgium do not. 1923 – Occupation of the Ruhr by France and Belgium. The Ruhr was the industrial heartland of Germany. French and Belgian forces went in to force the German workers to produce products so the Allies could collect reparations. It did not really work. There was passive resistance, strikes. The French tried bringing in there own workers. The occupation of the Ruhr led to a collapse of the German economy. There was massive inflation and large increase in unemployment. Germany was now unable to pay any reparations. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5xO3mHIKbk&feature=related Gustav Stresemann In the new government led by Wilhelm Marx, Stresemann was appointed as foreign minister. He accepted the Dawes Plan (1924) as it resulted in the French Army withdrawing from the Ruhr. Under Hans Luther Stresemann's skilled statesmanship led to the Locarno Treaty (December, 1925), the German-Soviet Treaty (April, 1926) and Germany joining the League of Nations in 1926. Later that year he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. 1924 – The Dawes Plan: American plan for the restructuring of reparation payments. The Americans involved themselves (isolationist) because they wanted their War Debts to be repaid. So they adjusted Germany’s ability to pay. France and Belgium leave the Ruhr 1925. 1929 – The Young Plan: Another American led restructuring plan. Germany agrees provided the Allies leave the Rhineland. This would fall apart with the Depression. 1929/30 – The Depression: Stock Market crash, low wages, high unemployment, low productivity, world wide, severe. France between the wars: - It took until 1925 to rebuild destroyed France. - Heavily depended on reparation payments from Germany - Were still very afraid of Germany even in its weakened state. - Built the Maginot Line, a series of steel and concrete forts along the French boarder stretching from Belgium to Switzerland. - French government was very fractionalized and weak. - The Socialists and Communists actually formed a coalition government in 1936 called the Front Populaire. NOTES: Britain between the wars: - After WW I, Britain had amassed a huge debt, suffered heavy causalities and lost its naval supremacy. - This led to a rise in Pacifism in Britain, especially from the young, to never have another war. - Many industrial problems, layoffs, deflation, the cost of living fell, people on welfare. - Consumer demands fell, so industrial production suffered. - Unions and strikes began to play major roles in politics and daily life. - The Labor Party became the official opposition in Britain. - British protest would be a contest of votes, not street violence. - The British Empire now classed its colonies as Dominions (Canada, India, and Australia). Britain’s main foreign policy goal was now to rebuild their economy based on global trade with her Dominions, giving them independence, instead of basic exploitation. ALLIANCES/PEACE MOVEMENTS to 1936 in EUROPE 1. France: - Germany a permanent threat. - Failed to get a guarantee of assistance from the USA so turned to Eastern Europe. - Established the Little Entente with Poland, Rumania, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia - This surrounded Germany and made France feel safer. 2. USSR: - an outcast, fears German plans in the Balkans - 1922 Treaty of Rapallo – Germany and the USSR agree not to collect reparations from one another. For-runner of Non-aggression pact. USSR tries to make treaties with France and Britain, but rejected. 3. Italy: - Germany tries to ANSCHLUSS (unification of Austria with Germany). - 1935 Stressa Front (conference) Brit, France and Italy work together to prevent this form happening because Italy fears a common boarder with Germany even though they are both Fascist. Notes: Disarmament and Negotiation 1922 – WASHINGTON CONFERENCE: Agreement to limit size of navies. Brit=5; USA=5; Japan=3; France and Italy=1.67. No provision for inspection. 1925 – LOCARNO TREATY: Britain, France, Belgium, Germany and Italy agree to respect each other’s boarders. Germany admitted to the League of Nations – optimism. 1928 – KELLOGG/ BRIAND PACT: 15 nations agree to renounce war except in self-defense. 1935 – ANGLO-GERMAN NAVAL TREATY: Britain and Germany agree on naval restriction, which are contrary to the Versailles Treaty. Britain’s reason was that Germany was going to rearm anyway, so try and put some kind of limit on it, or have some control. Wishful thinking! WHY DID DEMOCRACY (Weimar Republic) FAIL? Gustav Stressman had Germany on the right track during the 1920’s The economy was turning around, and the German Mark was regaining value. Internationally, Germany was gaining some credibility back The Locarno Treaty brought Germany into the League of Nations – BUT! 1. Germans had no real experience in democratic government. Coalition government could not really agree on how to best serve Germany, no could they really stop internal economic problems. 2. The Weimar government had to enforce the Treaty of Versailles. So some blamed the government for giving into the world powers. 3. Inflation ruined the economic stability of the middle class – they blamed the government. 4. There were too many political parties – the disenchanted could find a party to support. 5. Hitler found support from the middle class, and anti-Communist supporters. Also the industrialists supported Hitler for obvious reasons. 6. The Depression hit Germany hard – the Nazi’s offered a way out and an alternative to Communism. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEt7PLQpjXY&feature=related