PPQ #16. How did the League of Nations deal with Japan over the Manchurian crisis? (6) There was now a long and frustrating delay. The League set up the Lytton Commission in December 1931, two months after Japan invaded. League officials (Lytton Committee) sailed round the world to assess the situation in Manchuria for themselves. It was September 1932 – a full year after the invasion – before they presented their report. The League condemned Japan’s actions and said Manchuria should be returned to the Chinese. The Japanese government agreed but their army refused. On February 24, 1933 the report from the League’s officials was approved by 42 votes to 1 in the Assembly. Only Japan voted against. (Japan resigned from the League on 27 March 1933) The League discussed economic sanctions, but without the USA, Japan’s main trading partner, they would be meaningless. Besides, Britain seemed more interested in keeping up good relationships with Japan than in agreeing to sanctions. The League also discussed banning arms sales to Japan, but the member countries could not even agree about that. They were worried that Japan would retaliate and the war would escalate. Britain and France were not willing to risk their navies or armies in a war so far away with Japan. Only the USA and the 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 to stop the invasion.

EXAM PRACTICE: 2I + 4E + 4EI + 2C = 6 Why did the Disarmament Conference fail? Explain. (6) By July 1932 it had produced resolutions to: prohibit bombing of civilian populations, limit the size of artillery, limit the tonnage of tanks and prohibit chemical warfare. But there was very little in the resolutions to show how these limits would be achieved. For example: the bombing of civilians was to be prohibited, but all attempts to agree to abolish planes capable of bombing were defeated. Even the proposal to ban the manufacture of chemical weapons was defeated. It was not a promising start. The big question, however, was related to the principle of equality. All the powers knew that Hitler was secretly rearming Germany already. They also began to rebuild their own armaments. The Disarmament Conference struggled and finally ended in 1934. Disarmament failed for a number of reasons: Some say it was all doomed from the start. No one was very serious about disarmament anyway. It did not help that Britain and France were divided on this issue. Many British people felt that the Treaty of Versailles was unfair and the British signed a naval agreement with Germany in 1935, in violation of the Treaty.

TOPIC #2: Italy Invades Abyssinia 1935 PPQ #17. How did the League of Nations deal with Italy over the Abyssinian crisis? (6) 2I + 4E + 4EI + 2C = 6 Italy invaded Abyssinia in October 1935 and the League condemned the aggression. To start with, the British and the French failed to take the situation seriously. They played for time. They wanted to keep good relations with Mussolini, who seemed to be their strongest ally against Hitler and signed the Stresa Pact in 1935. At the meeting to discuss this, they did not even raise the question of Abyssinia. The League never actually did anything to discourage Mussolini. On 4 September, after eight months’ deliberation, a committee reported to the League that neither side could be held responsible for the Wal-Wal incident. The League put forward a plan that would give Mussolini some of Abyssinia. Mussolini rejected it. The League was designed for just such disputes and, unlike in the Manchurian crisis, it was ideally placed to act (as it involved a European country and was close to Europe).

A committee was immediately set up to agree what sanctions to impose. PPQ #17. How did the League of Nation deal with Italy over the Abyssinian crisis? A committee was immediately set up to agree what sanctions to impose. The League imposed an immediate ban on arms sales to Italy while allowing them to Abyssinia. It banned all loans to Italy. It banned all imports from Italy. It banned the export of rubber, tin and metals to Italy. However, the League delayed a decision for two months over whether to ban oil exports to Italy. It feared the Americans would not support the sanctions. It also feared that its members’ economic interests would be further damaged (ie: British coal exports to Italy). Britain and France never closed the Suez Canal, which was the Italians’ main supply route to Abyssinia and closing it could have ended the Abyssinian campaign very quickly. Both Britain and France were afraid that closing the canal could have resulted in war with Italy. The Hoare-Laval plan was leaked to the French press. It proved quite disastrous for the League. Sanctions discussions lost all momentum. The Abyssinian crisis was a disaster for the League of Nations and had serious consequences for world peace.

19. What factors demonstrate that the League was a failure in the 1930s? (6) 2I + 4E + 4EI + 2C = 6

PPQ #19. What factors demonstrate that the League was a failure in the 1930s? (6) A number of factors: Use page 254 (Walsh) The USA and other important countries were absent The League had no troops League Decisions were too slow The Treaties it had to uphold were seen as unfair Economic Sanctions did not work Leading members acted out of Self Interests. OTHER EXAMPLES: Disarmament Manchuria Abyssinia Agreements and alliances made outside the League: British and German naval agreement of 1935 British, French and Italians signed the Stresa Pact in 1935 Franco-Soviet Pact of May 1935, Dec 1935 the Hoare-Laval plan was leaked to the French press. It proved quite disastrous for the League. Rhineland in March 1936 Appeasement

PPQ #20. How far can the failure of the League be blamed on the Depression? Explain your answer. (8) Argument that YES, the Depression can be blamed: 1. 2. 3. Argument that NO, there are OTHER factors that can be blamed: 4.

Explain your answer. (10) 2I + 4EA + 4EIA + 4EF + 4EIF + 3C = 10 PPQ #20. How far can the failure of the League be blamed on the Depression? Explain your answer. (10) 2I + 4EA + 4EIA + 4EF + 4EIF + 3C = 10 The League failed for many reasons Yes, the Depression contributed to the failure of the League. For example: The Wall Street Crash started a long depression that quickly caused economic problems throughout the world. It damaged the trade and industry of all countries. It affected relations between countries and led nations to pursue self-interests. Many adopted aggressive foreign policies. It also led to important political changes within countries (ie: Germany, Italy and Japan). Much of the goodwill and the optimism of the late 1920s evaporated. The League lost momentum and was then unable to deal with other serious issues of the 1930s. Other reasons the League failed: Self-interests of leading members – Britain and France were never prepared to abandon their own interests to support the League. Germany, Italy and Japan disregarded the League when it didn’t suit their goals Membership - the USA and other important countries were not members. The League lacked authority and sanctions were rarely effective. Even though the USSR joined in 1934, Germany and Japan withdrew in 1933, while Italy withdrew in 1937. Structure: Punishments - were too often ineffective, especially sanctions. League members did not willingly use their most powerful weapon because it hurt their own economies and were easily disregarded by non- league members like the USA. Lack of Troops – the League relied on members to commit troops when needed, but troops never fought on behalf of the League. Britain and France were always unwillingly to commit troops. Decisions were slow – most events required quick and determined actions, which the League was unable to muster because decisions had to unanimous. The Treaties the League was supposed to enforce were seen as unfair.