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REVISION BOOKLET
PAPER 1 THEME 2
TO WHAT EXTENT WAS
THE LEAGUE OF
NATIONS A SUCCESS?
(LON)
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WHAT WERE THE AIMS OF THE LEAGUE OF
NATIONS?
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It was originally Wilson’s dream – came into being 1920.
Headquarters = Geneva – Switzerland.
Originally 42 members joined in 1920.
AIMS
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To keep world peace
To safeguard the independence of countries
Encourage reduction of armaments
Improve living and working conditions
One of the jobs of the LON was to uphold and enforce the Treaties (Versailles,
etc)
Every member country had to sign the covenant – a solemn agreement to
abide by the aims and terms of the i League and offer collective security to all.
Article 10 stated members could prevent war by defending the lands and
interests of all nations, large or small.
WHAT WAS THE STRUCTURE?
Assembly:
 Where all members met
 All had one vote
 Met once a year from Sept-Dec
 Fixed budget
 Elect non-permanent members
from the Security Council
 Unanimous vote needed
Secretariat:
The Civil Service
 Prepared reports
 Kept documents
Council:
4 permanent members Great Britain,
France, Italy and Japan
3 then 10 non-permanent members
 Dealt with emergencies
 Majority vote needed – BUT each
permanent member of the Council
had a veto to block a decision even if
all others agreed
The Council had a range of powers
 Moral condemnation – tell an
aggressor to stop
 Economic and financial sanctions
 Military force from member
countries – BUT THIS NEVER
HAPPENED
Permanent Court of Justice:
 Set up in 1921 Hague – Holland
AGENCIES
 15 judges – judged theOTHER
disputes BUT
only when countries requested and
had no way of ensuring that he countries followed its ruling.
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ILO – International Labour Organisation – tried to improve the working
conditions and wages. It brought together employment, governments and
workers representatives once a year.
Mandates Commission – kept an eye on the way colonies were run, in
particular on those taken from Germany to be run by Great Britain and France.
Others – dealt with social problems of:
 Drug abuse
 Slavery – to abolish it – a success was the challenge the use of forced
labour to build Tanganyika railway in Africa where death rate had been
50%, reduced to 4%.
THE COUNCIL OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS
WHAT WHERE THE WEAKNESSES IN THE
STRUCTURE?
1. LON was tied in with the faults of the Peace Treaties
2. Constitutional Defects – Assembly only met once a year, Council 3 or 4
times. Power of veto blocked important decisions.
3. LON was only a League of SOME nations – mainly white and winners
of WW1.
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WEAKNESSES CONTINUED
USA never joined – this was a MAJOR weakness. Wilson lost vote in
Congress to ratify peace treaty and to join LON. Republicans in power from 1920
wanted isolation from Europe and stay out of disputes.
USA also had a sizeable amount of immigrants who had opposed treaties and
LON.
Many in American felt economic structure would ruin business and that USA
could have to support Great Britain’s and France’s colonies.
Germany – not let in until 1926, left in 1933 under Hitler
Italy – left in 1936 over Abyssinia
USSR – let in 1934, expelled 1939
France and Great Britain – only great powers throughout
4. LON didn’t offer collective security especially as it had a lack of power –
had no army or police force. Harshest punishment for aggressions would be
sanctions.
It would be wrong though to think LON was a failure in 1920’s, there were
successes alongside failures.
USA NOT BEING PART OF THE LEAGUE – A
MAJOR WEAKNESS
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WHAT WERE THE SUCCESSES IN THE 1920’S?
1. LON was initially successful – helped sort out the chaos of the First World
War. Fridjoft Nansen helped return about 400,000 prisoners of war and
refugees to their own countries.
2. ILO – drew up agreements on such matters as freedom for workers to join
trade unions. Tried to abolish slave labour. It limited the hours small
children were allowed to work.
3. Health Committee – helped to fight diseases, such as typhus in Russia
1920’s. It also worked hard to defeat leprosy and campaigned to
exterminate mosquitoes which reduced cases of malaria.
4. Illegal sale of firearms was checked – trade in danger drugs controlled.
5. Helped countries with loans to develop industry and trade e.g. Austria
1923.
Therefore social problems were helped in the 1920’s.
WHY WAS THE LON SUCCESSFUL IN THE 1920’S AT
PEACEMAKING?
LON was good at settling small disputes, if countries were willing to accept
decisions.
Successes:
1. Aaland Islands 1920’s – disputed island between Sweden and
Finland – both sides threatened war. LON said islands should go to
Finland. Sweden accepted decision.
2. Yugoslavia/Albania 1920 – League stopped Yugoslavia invading
Albania.
3. 1920 League portioned Upper Silesia between Germany and Poland
after vote/plebiscite in the area.
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WHY WAS THERE FAILURES IN THE 1920’S AT
PEACEMAKING?
LON was powerless when a country was determined to fight, e.g.:
1. Vilna 1919 – had once been the capital of Lithuania, but most people
were Polish. When Lithuania became independent in 1919 it claimed
Vilna. Poland used force and seized the city. The League protested, but
allowed the Conference of Ambassadors to award the city to Poland.
2. Corfu Incident 1923 – is a VERY important failure for the League.
Italian soldiers employed by the Conference of Ambassadors to mark out
the border between Abyssinia and Greece were murdered by the bandits
in Greece. The Italian leader, Mussolini, demanded 50 million Lire
compensation. Greece asked the League to investigate but Italy refused
to accept this and invaded Corfu. The Conference of Ambassadors
ordered Greece to accept Mussolini’s demands. This was a huge blow
for the LON as ITALY WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER!
3. Ruhr 1923 – Germany fell behind with reparations. Instead of going to the
League to solve the problem, France invaded the Ruhr. FRANCE WAS A
COUNCIL MEMBER!
4. Greece/Bulgaria 1925 – shows well the problems facing LON in 1920’s
– during a border dispute some Greek soldiers were killed. Greece
invaded Bulgaria. The League ordered Greece to withdraw and pay
damages. Although Greece obeyed the League, they did complain that
there seems to be one rule for the large states (such as Italy) and
another for the smaller ones (such as themselves).
LON EFFORTS AT DISARMAMENT 1920’S
In the 1920’s the League largely failed in bringing about disarmament. At
Washington Naval Conference 1921, Japan, Great Britain and the USA
agreed to limit the size of their navies.
In 1923 the League attempted a Disarmament Treaty but it was rejected by
Great Britain because it would tie it to defending other countries.
By 1926 plans were made for Disarmament Conference and in 1933 when
Conference was due to meet – it was rejected by Germany.
Disarmament also failed in early 1930’s. 1932 Hoover (USA) suggested all
armies should be cut by a third – Ramsey McDonald (GB) stated armies should
be no more than 200,000. 1933 Hitler pulls Germany out of talks as no
agreement could be reached and also quits LON and rearms Germany.
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A CARTOON COMMENTING ON THE FAILURE OF
DISARNMAMENT
BUT! International agreements outside the LON meant disarmament
failures in the 1920’s were not so worrying, e.g.:
Locarno Treaties 1925/1926 France, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Belgium,
Poland and Czechoslovakia met.
 Germany accepted its borders with France and Belgium and Rhineland to
be demilitarised. Great Britain and Italy guaranteed to protect France if
Germany violated the borders.
 Germany and France agreed to settle disputes through LON
 Germany would not use force to change borders with Czechs and Poles.
France was really happy with the agreement and Germany allowed into
LON 1926.
Kellogg-Briand Pact 1928

65 countries signed the Pact (including America) to
a) Condemn war
b) Settle disputes peacefully
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Would keep their armies for self-defence only.
THE SIGNING OF THE
KELLOGG-BRIAND PACT
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BY THE END OF THE 1920’S IT SEEMED THE WORLD
WAS A SAFER PLACE THAN THE BEGINNING OF THE
1920’S AND THE LON HAS HELPED THIS!
USA had also helped German economy by lending money to them to help pay
their reparations in Dawes Plan 1924 and Young Plan 1929. Countries trading
with each other and by doing so were less likely to go to war. Even so, a
worrying financial world system had developed:
PAID WAR
DEBTS
GREAT BRITIAN
& FRANCE
USA
PAID
REPARATIONS
GERMANY
LENT MONEY
This worked well until the Wall Street Crash occurred October 1929 and is
to be a major cause of the failure of the League of Nations in 1930’s.
HOW DID THE WALL STREET CRASH AFFECT LON?
The Wall Street Crash led to:
 Fewer US loans to Europe
 Unemployment – less industry
 Some countries using tariffs to protect own industries
 Less international trade and money
 Tension between countries!
In the countries, it also led to:
 In Germany Hitler comes to power as a result of the depression in
Germany (see later notes)
 Great Britain suffered high unemployment and were not willing to get
involved in sorting out international disputes
 France – began building defences on its border with Germany
 USA – was unwilling to support economic sanctions while its own trade
was in a mess.
BUT actions of Japan and Italy were going to cause huge problems and
be major reasons for the failure of the LON.
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JAPAN AND MANCHURIA 1931
Japan – Council member – attacked Manchuria in China fro September 1931
to offset the problems of depression and to gain vital raw materials which it
lacked. Japan’s major export/industry silk was in decline.
China appealed to the LON for help. They sent out Lord Lytton to investigate.
The report took over a year to reproduce – it showed Japan as the aggressor.
But Japan left the League in 1933 and continued taking Chinese land. Great
Britain and USA could have helped China but didn’t want to endanger trade
with Japan – they looked after their own interests.
A CARTOON SHOWING JAPAN DEFYING
THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS
A CARTOON OF ITALY BEING ALLOWED TO
TAKE OVER ABYSSINIA
ITALY AND
ABYSSINIA 1935/36
Mussolini attacked Abyssinia to offset problems at home. Abyssinian leader
Hailie Selassie appealed to the LON for help. They imposed sanctions – BUT –
iron, coal and steel trading still went on with Italy! Also the Suez Canal was kept
open!
In December 1935 the Great British and French Foreign Ministers Hoare
and Laval planned to give 2/3rds of Abyssinia to Mussolini. They didn’t tell
LON. When news of the plan leaked out the ministers were forced to resign.
Great Britain and France were again looking after their own interests – only
half hearted in sanctions as they wanted Italy as a friend against the growing
threat of Hitler.
May 1936 Italy takes over Abyssinia. LON watched helplessly. Collective
security was shown to be an empty promise. THE LON HAD FAILED.
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THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS IN THE 1930’S
WHY DID JAPAN ATTACK MANCHURIA?
The Wall Street Crash in 1929 America hit most of the world badly. There
was less International Trade and countries put up tariffs to protect their own
boundaries. The depression hit Japan badly. They lacked raw materials and
their main export SILK, was not needed by other countries. Army leaders had
much control over the Japanese empire by force.
Manchuria in China was a likely target, as it had:
1. Raw materials
2. Japanese soldiers in the area controlling the South Manchurian
Railway
In September 1931 Japanese soldiers claimed that Chinese soldiers had
sabotaged the railway. In retaliation they over ran Manchuria in February
1932 and then set up a puppet government in Manchukuo – its new name.
Later in 1932 the Japanese bombed Shanghai.
SPACE FOR MAP
WHY DID THE LON FAIL IN MANCHURIA?
China appealed to the league, Japan claimed it was not invading as an
aggressor but simply ‘settling a local difficulty’. Japan argued that China
was in such a state of anarchy that they had to invade in self-defence to keep
the peace in the area. Japan was a Council member of the League.
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WHAT SHOULD THE LON DO?
LON RESPONSE! – WAS SLOW! The League’s officials led by Lord Lytton
took a year to preset their report (September 1932). It stated Japan was in the
wrong and had acted unlawfully. Manchuria should be returned to the
Chinese!
BUT!
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February 1933 - Japan accounted they intended to invade more of
China – for self-defence reasons!
24th February 1933 - LON approved the Lytton report by 42 to 1 in the
assembly
27th March 1933 – Japan resigned from the LON and then invaded
Jehol province of China
WHAT COULD THE LON DO NOW?
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It was powerless. They discussed economic sanctions, but without
America, Japan’s main trading partner, they would be meaningless.
Britain seemed more interested in keeping up good relationships with
Japan than agreeing to sanctions.
Britain and France did not want to risk their navies or armies in a war
with Japan. Only USA or USSR would have had the resources to
remove the Japanese from Manchuria by force and they were not
even members of the League!
The League failed China.
Many excuses were given for example:
“Japan was so far away – Japan was a special case and China was in a
state of anarchy”
.
The significance of the Manchurian crisis was obvious.
As many critics predicted, the League was powerless if a strong nation decided
to pursue an aggressive policy and invade its neighbours. Japan had committed
blatant aggression and got away with it.
Back in Europe both Hitler and Mussolini observed with interest. Soon they
followed Japans example.
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JAPAN AND MANCHURIA 1931
SECTION A
1. What was Japans main export?
2. Why was Manchuria a likely target?
3. What happened in September 1931?
4. What happened in February 1932?
5. How did the League respond to the take-over?
6. How did Japan react to the League?
SECTION B
REASONS WHY THE
LEAGUE FAILED IN
MANCHURIA
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WHY DID ITALY INVADE ABYYSSINIA?
A fatal blow to the League of Nations came when the Italian dictator Mussolini
invaded Abyssinia in 1935. Like Japan, Italy was a council member of the
League, but had suffered from the effects of the Wall Street Crash and wanted to
expand its empire by invading another country BUT the League couldn’t give the
excuse that this problem was in an inaccessible part of the world. Italy bordered
France and Abyssinia bordered British colonies in Africa.
THE LON WOULD HAVE TO ACT – WOULDN’T IT?
The origins of the event to back to 1896 when Italian troops had tried to invade
Abyssinia but had been defeated, Mussolini wanted revenge – the fertile lands
and mineral wealth of Abyssinia and glory and conquest.
December 1934 a dispute occurred at the Wal Wal Oasis, 50 miles inside
Abyssinia. This gave Mussolini the excuse he needed to prepare for attack and
demand an apology for what he called a problem on ‘Italian territory’. The
Abyssinian leader Hailie Selassie appealed to the League for help.
PHASE ONE JANUARY 1935 – OCTOBER 1935
During this time Mussolini both talked to the LON but also shipped a vast
army to Africa.
Great Britain and France were desperate to keep in good relations with
Mussolini against the threat of Hitler. Great Britain, France and Italy had
signed an agreement known as the Stresa Pact – a friendship agreement.
Abyssinia was not a worry that Great Britain and France seemed to be taking
seriously. BUT as 1935 wore on, the public in Britain supported the use of
military force to defend Abyssinia if necessary. In time for autumn 1935
election British politicians started to ‘talk tough’ and the British Foreign
Minister Hoare spoke to the League about the collective security –
HOWEVER there was a lot of talk BUT no action.
PHASE TWO OCTOBER 1935 – MAY 1936
October 1935 Mussolini launched a full scale attack on Abyssinia. It was a
clear case of a large powerful state attacking a small one.
The League could impose sanctions and a committee was set up to agree on
what sanctions to use. LON imposed an immediate ban on arms sales to
Italy, loans, rubber, tin and metals BUT LON delayed a decision on
whenever to ban oil as they feared USA wouldn’t support it – it would ruin
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their own economic interests for example: Britain stated 30,000 British coal
miners would lose their jobs because of coal to Italy.
MORE IMPORTANTLY – the LON didn’t close down the SUEZ CANAL which
was owned by Great Britain and France – and made the journey for Italian
troops to enter Abyssinia easy.
This failure was fatal for Abyssinia.
ALSO WORRYINGLY – Britain and France were secretly making deals.
December 1935 Hoare and Laval (Great British and French foreign
secretaries) said they would give Mussolini 2/3rds of Abyssinia in return for
calling off his invasion! Laval even proposed to show the plan to Mussolini
before they showed it either to the LON or to Hailie Selassie!
BUT details of the plan were leaked to the French press. Hoare and Laval
were sacked – Britain and France were seen as undertaking a blatant act of
treachery against the League. Hailie Selassie demanded an immediate
debate in the League – BUT this put off talks about sanctions – especially
about oil.
February 1936 LON stated oil supplies in Italy would be exhausted even if
America was supplying them.
BUT IT WAS TOO LATE! - MUSSOLINI HAD ALREADY TAKEN OVER
LARGE PARTS OF ABYSSINIA!
And USA actually stepped up oil exports to Italy – because of Great Britain’s
and France’s differing.
February 1936 A FATAL BLOW WAS DELIVERED. HITLER, TIMING HIS
MOVE TO PERFECTION – MARCHED HIS TROOPS INTO THE
RHINELAND. FRANCE WAS NOT TOO WORRIED ABOUT PUTTING
SANCTIONS ON ITALY - WANTED THEIR SUPPORT – AND WAS
PREPARED TO GIVE ABYSSINIA TO MUSSOLINI!
But Britain and France “giving over” Abyssinia didn’t help them in friendship
with Mussolini against Hitler.
November 1936 Mussolini and Hitler signed an agreement called the RomeBerlin axis.
Italy continued to defy LON – by May 1936 had taken Addis Ababa, capital of
Abyssinia. 2nd May – Hailie Selassie resigned as emperor and left the
country. 9th May Italy takes over the whole of Abyssinia.
THE LEAGUE HAD FAILED! COLLECTIVE SECURITY HAD FAILED!
HITLER WOULD BE THE NEXT TO TAKEOVER LANDS! THE HOPES OF
THE LEAGUE HAD VANISHED!
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ITALY, ABYSSINIA AND THE LEAGUE
SECTION A
1. Why did Italy want to invade Abyssinia?
2. What happened December 1934 and how did Mussolini
react?
3. Who was the Abyssinian leader and what did he do?
4. Why did Great Britain want to keep on good relations with
Mussolini?
5. What happened October 1935?
Fill in the chart:
What the League did
What did League didn’t do
6. What was the Hoare – Laval plan?
Complete the following timeline on events in Abyssinia
Feb 1936
7th March
1936
May 1936
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THEREFORE IN THE 1930’S THE LON FAILED AS:
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USA and other important countries were not members
Lack of troops/force
Slow decisions
Treaties it had to uphold were unfair
Sanctions didn’t work
COUNTIRES LOOKED AFTER THEIR OWN INTERESTS!
Germany was affected because of the Wall Street Crash.
 Industries couldn’t sell abroad – many factories closed
 Huge unemployment – 3 million September 1930 over 5 million
September 1932
 1931 German bank DARMSTADER went bust
ALL OF THIS PLAYED INTO THE POLITICAL HANDS OF EXTREMISTS
ADOLF HITLER who promised jobs and appealed to many groups in society –
who saw him as a strong leader – one who could lead Germany out of
depression. Hitler comes into power 1933 and leaves LON same year as
disarmament conference failed – sees what Japan has done in Manchuria WEAK LON – aggressively changed Germany – over turns Peace Treaty of
Versailles (TOV) and goes against LON. He does this by rearming –
conscription, building up his air forces and in his aggressive takeovers:
RHINELAND 1936
AUSTRIA 1938
SUDETENLAND 1938
CZECHOSLOVAKIA 1939