A look at the economic depression, the Japanese invasion of Manchuria, the Italian invasion of Abyssinia, and last but not least, disarmament.

 The 1920s had seen moments of prosperity and efforts towards democracy. But, after 1930, there was a great depression. Countries now wanted to increase their wealth at other nations' expense. Fascist governments which believed in the survival of the strongest came to power in Germany and Italy. Historians disagree about the success of the League in the 1920s. In the 1930s, there is no doubt it failed terribly.  We will investigate the factors and events that led to the failure of the League of Nations.

 Damaged the trade and industry of all countries  Affected relations between countries  Led to important political changes within countries

 Much of the goodwill and the optimism of the late 1920s evaporated

 The Background: ◦ Japan had a very powerful army & navy – army leaders often dictated govt policy ◦ Japan had a strong industry with heavy exports to the United States and China ◦ Japan had a growing empire, including part of the Korean peninsula  Then, the Great Depression hit.  USA and China used tariffs (a tax/fee paid on a particular import or export) against Japanese goods  Without trade from the US, Japan’s economy suffered and they could hardly afford to feed their people  solution = build an empire by force.

The Dispute:  Japan controlled South Manchurian Railway

The Dispute:  September ‘31: claimed that Chinese soldiers had sabotaged railway  Overran Manchuria in retaliation and threw out Chinese  Feb ‘32: They set up puppet govt there and called it Manchukuo.  Later, Japanese bombed Shanghai  Civilian (non-military) Japanese govt asked them to withdraw, but the army refused  It was clear that army was in control of Japanese foreign policy

 China asked the League to help  Japan claimed they were not an aggressor, but they were simply settling a local dispute over the railways  Japan also claimed China was in anarchy and they to invade in self-defense in order to keep the peace

 What the League Did: ◦ Japan was a major member in the League of Nations ◦ They must be dealt with delicately ◦ Their response was delayed ◦ The League sent a group of officials led by Lord Lytton to study the problem (this took a year). ◦ Found that Japan had clearly acted unlawfully. ◦ In February 1933 it ordered Japan to leave Manchuria.

 The outcome: ◦ Japan refused to leave Manchuria. ◦ Instead announce plans to further invade China, again citing self-defense ◦ League of Nations report was approved by a vote of 42 to 1 (Japan was the only country voting against it). ◦ Instead, Japan left the League. ◦ The next week they invaded Jehol

 The Outcome ◦ The League = powerless  could impose economic sanctions (restrict trade), but without US cooperation, they would be pointless  Britain seemed more interested in keeping good relationship w/ Japan ◦ The League considered banning arms sales to Japan, but most members were afraid that this would cause Japan to retaliate and war would escalate ◦ France and Britain would NOT risk sending their armies and navies to a war with Japan ◦ Only the USA and USSR would have the resources to remove the Japanese by force, but neither were in the League

 The Outcome ◦ Many countries made excuses for the way the Manchurian situation was handled:  Japan was really far away. They weren’t that much of a threat.  Japan was a special case.  Japan had a point about the anarchy in China.  Hitler and Mussolini were watching…

Japan and the Manchurian Crisis

 Failed in 1920s  Increased pressure in ‘30s for League to do something ◦ German resentment ◦ Other countries spending a lot on making weapons ◦ Manchurian Crisis

 Began Feb ‘32  By July, had resolved: ◦ No bombing of civilian populations ◦ Limit size or artillery ◦ Limit the capacity of tanks ◦ No chemical warfare  AGAIN! Little to show how this would be achieved ◦ Did not prohibit planes capable of bombing or the manufacture of chemical weapons

 Been in League for 6 yrs  Growing desire within the League to treat Germany as equals ◦ BIG QUESTION? Everyone disarm to level required or Germany or allow Germany to ream to level of everyone else?  So what happened?

 July ‘32: Germans propose everyone scales down. They says no. Germans walk out.  December: League reaches agreement to treat German equally.  Jan ‘33: Germany comes back to conference.  Feb: Hitler becomes Chancellor and starts to rearm.  May: Hitler promises not to rearm IF “in 5 yrs all other nations disarm”  June: Britain plans aggressive disarmament  October: Hitler withdrew from Disarmament Conference, and soon after took Germany out of the League altogether

 All nations knew Hitler was secretly rearming.  They also began to rebuild own armaments  Conference continued on (without much success) for another year, ending in 1934.

 It was doomed from the start, no one had serious intent to disarm  Britain and France were divided on the issue ◦ By ‘33 many Brits thought TofV was unfair ◦ By ‘35 Britain had signed agreement w/ Germany to allow building up navy as long as it stayed within 35% of the size of the British navy  Britain did not consult the Allies or the League  Each country was protecting itself and ignoring the League  Disarmament and Abyssinia Disarmament and Abyssinia

Fatal Blow to the League

 Italy before Mussolini: ◦ After WWI = many problems  Political (5 govts between )  Loss of men  Disappointed with “mutilated peace”  Mussolini: ◦ 1919 organized gang of ex-servicemen known as the “fascists” ◦ Loved parades and uniforms ◦ Constantly changed policies (ready to drop any belief that got in the way of his search for power) ◦ Encouraged Italians to look up to him as a special leader with extraordinary powers

 The Fascist take-over ◦ 1922 march on Rome ◦ 1924 rigged elections (rival was murder) ◦ 1925 Mussolini began to rule as dictator ◦ 1926 all other parties banned (Communists and socialists were imprisoned and murdered) ◦ Propaganda set to convince people that Mussolini was super- human (ex. “Mussolini is always right”) ◦ 1928 only fascists can vote, only fascists can be candidates ◦ 1929 made agreements with the Pope (gave Church special privileges in return for no challenge)

1. Italians should take fierce pride in their country 2. War is good for a country and young men should be ready to fight 3. Italy should establish an empire in Africa 4. No other political parties are allowed 5. Communism and socialism are enemies of fascism 6. Democracy is useless. Italy needs a strong powerful leader who can tell people what to do. 7. The place of women is at home. Italian women should have as many children possible. 8. A great country should be self-sufficient. The government should tell firms what to produce to bring this about.

 Abyssinia : An independent country ruled by Haile Selassie, the only independent country in Africa. In 1896 its army had defeated an Italian invasion and humiliated them  Mussolini : Fascist dictator of Italy, was determined to build an Empire (like Japan, by force). He wanted revenge for defeat of 1896 and the mineral wealth of the land. Most importantly, wanted glory and conquest.

 Dec ’34: Provoked by Italians at Ethiopian soldiers at Wal-Wal oasis (Mussolini claimed it was Italian territory)  Demanded apology from Abyssinia and prepared his army for invasion  Abyssinian emperor, Haile Selassie, appealed to the League of Nations

 Britain and France did not take issue seriously - desperate to stop Italy joining forces with Germany  Mussolini “negotiated” with League, all the while sending army to Africa & stirring up “war fever” at home  Signed an agreement in early 1935 w/ Mussolini (Stresa Pact)  Very vague  Didn’t even discuss Abyssinia  Formalized a protest against German rearming and committing them to stand united  Some call this the Stresa “Front”: an anti-German grouping of Italy, Britain, and France

 But, had to respond to public outcry against Italy  British people wanted military action to defend Abyssinia ◦ Facing election, British politicians “got tough” ◦ There was a lot of talk in the League about “collective security” but nothing was actually done to stop Mussolini  September ‘35, a committee reported that neither side was guilty for the incident! ◦ Put forward a plan to give Mussolini some of Abyssinia ◦ Mussolini rejected it ◦ First War Film in Abyssinia First War Film in Abyssinia

 Mussolini invades w/ tanks, planes, and gas ◦ Clearly a large, powerful state attacking a smaller one  According to the League of Nations Covenant, sanctions must be placed against the aggressor (Mussolini)  A committee was organized  B + F are stuck in dilemma. Didn’t want to annoy Mussolini, but they wanted to support League and idea of collective security

 The League needed to act quickly to prevent Mussolini from gaining more ground  Condemned action and imposed a trade ban ◦ arms sales, loans, imports from, and exports (rubber, tin, metal)  But, ban did not include trade in oil or petrol ◦ This decision about oil exports delayed the League 2 months ◦ They feared US wouldn’t support decision ◦ They feared the economic impact on member nations  30,000 British coal miners would lose their jobs as a result of the ban on oil exports  This was crucial. Limited sanctions would not work.

 More importantly, the Suez Canal, owned by Britain and France, was not closed to Mussolini’s supply ships ◦ The canal was the main supply route for Italy ◦ Closing it would be fatal to Italy ◦ Britain and France were afraid to close it, thinking it would lead to a full-on war with Italy

 Meanwhile, secret deals between Britain and France occurred behind League’s back: ◦ Dec ’35: Hoare and Laval, created plan to give Mussolini 2/3 of Abyssinia in return for calling off the invasion ◦ Details of the plan leaked to the French media – this was BAD ◦ Haile Selassie was furious ◦ Hoare and Laval were accused of treachery against the League and fired immediately

 Feb-March ‘36: ◦ Too late to worry about oil sanctions: Mussolini had already taken over large parts of Abyssinia ◦ The Americans were disgusted with France and Britain and refused to support the League

 The French worried about Hitler’s movement (desperate to gain support of Italy)  May ‘36: Italy annexed the entire country  The League watched helplessly (collective security had proved to be an empty promise)  Had hoped their handling of Abyssinia would strengthen position against Hitler, but it was a bad choice  Mussolini and Hitler were on their way to signing their own agreement (Rome-Berlin Axis)

 Do the events of the 1930s support these statements about the League? How? ◦ That it would be slow to act ◦ That members would act in their own self interest, not the League’s ◦ That without the USA it would be powerless ◦ That economic sanctions would not work ◦ That without a military, it could not enforce decisions