Why did the League of Nations fail in the 1930’s?

Japan Invades Manchuria The Dispute: Japan controlled South Manchurian _________________

Japan Invades Manchuria China asked the __________________ to help Japan claimed they were not an aggressor, but they were simply ______________ a local ______________ over the railways Japan also claimed China was in _______________ and they to invade in _____________-______________ in order to keep the peace

Japan Invades Manchuria What the League Did: Their response was _________________ The League sent a group of officials led by Lord Lytton to study the problem (this took a __________________).  Found that Japan had clearly acted unlawfully. In February 1933 it ordered Japan to _____________ Manchuria.

Japan Invades Manchuria The outcome: Japan ________________ 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 ____________ the League. The next week they invaded Jehol

Results of Manchuria The Outcome The League = _______________ could impose economic sanctions (restrict trade), but without US cooperation, they would be ____________________ Britain seemed more interested in keeping good __________________w/ Japan Only the USA and USSR would have the _______________________ to remove the Japanese by force, but neither were in the League

Results of Manchuria 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…

Why did disarmament fail? Failed in 1920s Increased __________________ in ‘30s for League to do something German resentment Other countries spending a lot on making weapons Manchurian Crisis

Disarmament Conference 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

The Issue of Germany Been in League for 6 yrs Growing desire within the League to treat Germany as ___________________ BIG QUESTION? Everyone disarm to level required or Germany or allow Germany to ream to level of everyone else?

Why did the Conference fail? It was doomed from the ________________, no one had serious ___________ to disarm Britain and France were divided on the issue By ‘33 many Brits thought TofV was ___________ By ‘35 Britain had signed agreement w/ Germany to allow building up ______________ 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 ______________ and ________________ the League

Fatal Blow to the League

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

So what did they do? Phase 1: League Plays for Time January – October 1935 Britain and France did not take issue seriously - desperate to stop Italy ___________________ 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 Signed an agreement in early 1935 w/ Mussolini (Stresa Pact) formalizing a protest against Germany’s rearming and committing them to stand united against Germany

But, had to respond to __________________ outcry against Italy British people wanted_______________ action to defend Abyssinia Facing election, British politicians “got tough” There was a lot of talk in the League about “________________ ________________” 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 __________________ Mussolini rejected it This was a clear cut case and the League was in an ideal place to act

So what happened next. Phase 2: Sanctions or not So what happened next? Phase 2: Sanctions or not? October ’35 – May ‘36: Mussolini ________________ 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

Phase 2: Sanctions or not? October ’35 – May ‘36: The League needed to act quickly to prevent Mussolini from gaining more ground Condemned action and imposed a ______________ 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. ________________ sanctions would not work.

Phase 2: Sanctions or not? October ’35 – May ‘36: More importantly, the _____________ ____________, 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 ___________________to Italy Britain and France were afraid to close it, thinking it would lead to a full-on war with Italy

Mussolini “obtains” Abyssinia The French worried about Hitler’s movement (desperate to gain _____________________t of Italy) May ‘36: Italy annexed the entire country Had hoped their handling of Abyssinia would strengthen position against Hitler, but it was a bad choice