The League of Nations and the Inability to Prevent World War II FAILURES OF COLLECTIVE SECURITY

DOES EACH CARTOON HAVE A POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE VIEW ON THE LEAGUE?

Collective Security Wilson’s Fourteen Points set up the League of Nations Collective Security Peace could be preserved through countries acting together Disputes referred to the Assembly No decision, left to the Council Covenant Also aimed to promote disarmament, supervise territories, and promote international good will and cooperation 32 Allied states originally International Disputes Could refer disputes to Permanent Court of International Justice, Arbitration or Council League could impose economic sanctions, impacted by success of blockade in WWI Could call for military action, did not have its own forces, little teeth

Structure

Problems for the League in 1920s Absence of major powers USA missing weakened potential of collective security Led to distinctly European organization, continent in decline Excluded the USSR League a club for capitalists Absence of Germany Initially excluded, victors’ club Weakness of Central European states New states struggling politically

Attempts to Strengthen the League Two attempts to strengthen the League by France in Draft Treaty of Mutual Assistance Would have required all members to assist another following aggression Geneva Protocol of 1924 Arbitration compulsory in all disputes Both rejected by Britain Divided over those who wanted a strong League and those who wanted to be selective Others not as worried as France

The Ruhr Crisis For France, security was upholding the Treaty of Versailles Felt it had been undermined German political situation meant a government that would not comply Reparation payments became absent Germans had protested Wiesbaden Accords, France would assist Germany by taking raw materials Germany asks for suspension of payments for four years France has had enough With Belgium and Italy, moved troops into the Ruhr Valley in January 1923 Germany protested under Chancellor Wilhelm Cuno

The Ruhr Crisis German economy collapsed Cuno replaced with Gustav Stresemann Crisis ended with Dawes Plan Brokered by U.S. Reparations were reduced, but guaranteed France accepted this because it brought the Americans back into the picture Allies recovered more than ever France withdraws from Ruhr Had shown weaknesses of the League France had taken matters into their own hands, a permanent member Increase of tension between France and Germany

The Rapallo Treaty April 1922, Germany and Russia Introduced diplomatic relations and pledged cooperation Germany recognized the Soviet government and both powers denounced reparations Close economic cooperation Germany rearmed and trained secretly in Russia Made Britain want to be friendlier with Germany

Locarno Era – Improving Europe Still troops in Rhineland and other Germany cities Stresemann wanted them gone Locarno Conference in Feb Series of treaties Guaranteed borders between France, Belgium and Germany Germany signed treaties with Czechoslovakia and Poland Brought into League Gave hope for future security, Locarno Spirit France had not changed its view of Germany, only its strategy Both Treaty of Versailles and League of Nations had been undermined

Kellogg-Briand Pact, 1928 Renounced war as an instrument of national policy 62 of 64 states signed High point of Locarno Spirit era Really, Germany was still recovering, economics were good Decreased tensions

Young Plan, 1929 Addressed problems of the Dawes Plan Further reduced sum of money to be repaid by Germany Set a date for completion of repayments – 1988 Continued US involvement in reparation payments Britain and France agreed to end occupation of the Rhineland early Most investment in Germany was happening from US capitalists

Why Did Collective Security Fail in the 1930s? League had collapsed by 1939 Depression after October 1929 World’s economy had been linked to USA Return to a world of self-interest and military forces Governments found right-wing political groups difficult to restrict Heightened fears of the USSR Expansionism growing in Europe and Asia Economic sanctions now not an option for the League Return to old-style diplomacy, outside of the League

Failure of Disarmament Attempts to reduce weapons through 1920s Washington Conference, Great Britain, US, Japan built up navies after WWI Cost was too much Five Power Treaty 5:3:3 for America, Britain, Japan, ratio of naval tonnage No new battleships for the next 10 years Four Power Treaty USA, Japan, Britain, France, guaranteed possessions in Asia, agreed to come to aid Nine Power Treaty Affirmed territorial integrity of China, endorsed Open Door policy Successful in limiting naval armament Did not include Germany or Russia

Failure of Disarmament London Naval Conference, 1930 Revised the agreement at Washington 5:3:3 now 10:10:7 London Naval Treaty, 1936 Re-negotiation of London Treaty, 1930 Japan no longer wishes to limit naval tonnage, walked out Now going along with Germany in buildup Geneva Disarmament Conference, Facing German threat, disagreements over what should be limited and how Germany demanded equality of status 1933, Hitler led Germany out of Conference

The Manchurian Dispute Japan has an Empire Mariana and Caroline Islands after WWI Greatest industrial and trading power in Asia 1931, Japanese army in Manchuria, claimed that a bomb explosion was evidence of growing disorder They had actually planted it Japan attacked China China appealed to the League League condemned Japan, ordered it to withdraw Government accepted, army did not Appointed a commission, invasion already complete though Instructed members not to recognize Manchukuo Japan left the League Claimed hypocrisy by Britain

The Manchurian Dispute Impact of the Depression causes member states to be too troubled with their own domestic situations Unwilling to apply economic sanctions Japan’s main trading link was USA, not even a member Military solution was problematic Manchuria was remote, inaccessible Only Britain or USA could have done it Dire failure for the League China had no practical support Mussolini encouraged Starting point for dominance of Japanese militarism

The Abyssinian Crisis 1932, Mussolini began planning annexation of Abyssinia (Ethiopia) Wanted to secure North African Empire, distract his people from the impact of the Depression Would link Eritrea with Italian Somaliland First conflict Dec. 1934, full scale invasion Oct Knew the League would let him do it Britain and France afraid to lose him as an ally against Germany Brutality of the assault was too much League condemned Italy Escalating program of sanctions Britain and France worked for settlement outside of the League Italy held Mediterranean Sea

The Abyssinian Crisis League sanctions had no effect on Italy Mussolini in control of Abyssinia by May 1936 Abyssinian Crisis was a disaster Permanent member had again ignored the League and been victorious through war Proved self-interest was more important Italy, now isolated from Allies, moved towards Germany Hitler exploits the League with militarization of the Rhineland in March 1936 Final nail in the coffin, failure

Simulation of Manchuria and Abyssinia China – Ally, Gabrielle Japan – Darren, Sara Britain – Alex, Alice France – Cara, Meghana Italy – Julianna, Hannaan United States – Jennifer, Jack What is your position on the action? Abyssinia – Cara, Jennifer Italy – Gabrielle, Darren France – Ally, Alice Britain – Jack, Meghana United States – Alex, Julianna Germany – Hannaan, Sara What action should the League take? What is the impact on your nations? ManchuriaAbyssinia

LIMITED SUCCESSES

Peacekeeping Aaland Islands, 1920 Populated by Swedes Collapse of Russian empire, Finland claimed sovereignty Sweden accepted the League’s decision to give them to Finland

Peacekeeping Vilna, Poland and Lithuania wanted control of town of Vilna Once the capital of the latter, people were Polish League unable to prevent the Poles from seizing it by force Conference of Ambassadors awarded it to Poland

Peacekeeping Upper Silesia, 1921 Both Germany and Poland wanted control of this industrial area League split the area between the two

Peacekeeping Corfu, 1923 Three Italian army officers shot while working on a boundary dispute between Greece and Albania Mussolini blamed Greece and ordered compensation Greeks did not pay, Italy occupied Corfu Greece appealed to the League, but Italy ignored them Left when compensation was paid

Peacekeeping Mosul, 1924 Claimed by Turkey and Iraq Awarded the territory to Iraq, decision accepted Bulgaria, 1925 Greek invasion of Bulgaria League ordered both armies to stop fighting Investigation blamed the Greeks Accepted it and paid compensation