How far did the League of Nations succeed in the 1920s?

BORDER DISPUTES

2. Aaland Islands, 1921 Sweden & Finland: territorial dispute over Aaland Islands Threatened to go to war League intervened: decided that islands belong to Finland Sweden accepted ruling Vilnius, 1920 Poland took control of Vilnius (capital of Lithuania) Lithuania appealed to League League told Poland to leave Vilnius Poland did not leave – Br and Fr did not want to intervene 3. Upper Silesia, 1921 Area between Ger & Poland Dispute over who it belonged to Plebiscite (vote) overseen by League Area divided between the two countries

Homework Read the information under ‘Corfu, 1923’ on pg 33 Select the points which you think are relevant/ that you need to know in order to answer an exam question Write down those points in your books.

Corfu, 1923 Post-war boundary bet Greece & Albania needed to be defined League’s Conference of Ambassadors = responsible - An informal meeting of the important members of the League (often made decisions) Tellini = Italian supervisor of the team - Ambushed and killed on Greek side of the border

Mussolini (Italian dictator) ordered Greece to pay compensation to Italy and execute the murderers Italy bombed and occupied Corfu Greece appealed to the League SERIOUS situation (risk of an all out war) League condemned Mussolini Greece to pay compensation – money to be looked after by League until (if, when) Tellini’s killers were found

Mussolini refused to accept decision France and Brit had different opinions Br prepared to intervene to force Mussolini out of Corfu Fr backed the Italians Br not prepared to act alone Council’s ruling was changed Greece had to apologise & pay compensation to Italy Caused anger within the League Showed weakness of great powers

Source Analysis activity p. 33 INDIVIDUAL Source Analysis activity p. 33

Geneva Protocol Corfu (and Ruhr in 1923)– leading member of League could ignore the Covenant = shows how weak the League was Br & Fr = drew up Geneva Protocol 1924 If two members of League were having a dispute they HAD to go to the League to settle the dispute and they HAD to accept the Council’s decision - Meant to strengthen League BUT British elections – new party in power – refused to sign protocol ‘not in Britain’s interests’ Protocol weakened League

Bulgaria, 1925 Another test for League Greek troops invaded Bulgaria after incident on border where some Greek soldiers were killed Bulgaria appealed to League & sent instructions to army Council ordered both sides to step down & Greece to leave Bulgaria – League acted quickly Both Br & Fr backed the decision League ruled in favour of Bulgaria Greece had to pay compensation (League would impose sanctions if they refused) Greece accepted decision Different standards for smaller nations than bigger nations? (Think Corfu)

How did the League of Nations work for a better world? Refugees Nansen report – easier for refugees to return home/resettle Approx 400,000 prisoners of war returned home by Refugees Commission NB in Turkey 1922 – refugee crisis League worked hard to eradicate cholera, smallpox & dysentry in camps Success in 1920s OFTEN SHORT OF FUNDS; LESS EFFECTIVE IN 1930S

2. Working Conditions ILO successfully limited working hoursfor small children Campaigned strongly for employers to improve working conditions Resolution for 48 hour max working week, 8 hr day (but only adopted by small number of countries – would raise industrial costs) Influential – raised awareness about abuses BUT could only ‘name and shame’ countries/companies LIMITED FUNDS

NB achievements – on of the most successful of L of N 3. Health NB achievements – on of the most successful of L of N Funded breakthrough research – development of vaccines, medication for deadly infectious diseases (eg leprosy, malaria) Global campaign to eradicate mosquitoes – greatly reduced malaria and yellow fever cases Right: League of Nations Malaria Investigation Committee to India. A British doctor in India indicating the size of a young child's spleen enlarged by malaria ...

4. Transport Introduced international highway code for drivers Helped with spread of communication, expansion of transport networks (eg shipping lanes) 5. Social problems Blacklisted drug companies involved in illegal drug trade Anti-slavery – brought about liberation of 200,000 slaves in Sierra Leone Organised raids vs slave traders in Burma Challenged use of forced labour in building the Tanganyika (present day Tanzania) railway (death rate was reduced from 50% to 4%)

Disarmament

Study the information in the ‘factfile’ box on p. 36 With a partner, invent an easy way to remember each conference agreement. Washington Conference 1921 UK, France, USA, Japan - limit size of navy WASHINGTON = WATER = NAVY

1921 Washington Conference USA, UK, France, Japan agree to limit navy size 1922 Rapallo Treaty USSR & Germany re-establish diplomatic relations 1924 Dawes Plan USA lent money to Germany to help it pay reparations 1925 Locarno Treaties Germany accepted its western borders (as per dictated by T of V) Paved way for Germany to enter League 1928 Kellogg-Briand Pact 65 nations agreed not to use force to settle disputes But no clear consequence for any member who broke the pact 1929 Young Plan Reduced Germany’s reparation payments

Disarmament = failure Never progressed beyond 1921 Washington Conference Damaged League’s reputation esp. in Germany (Germany was the only country which was forced to disarm) Other countries were not prepared to give up own armies BUT failure over disarmament did not appear too serious in 1920s (see previous conference agreements)

Economic Recovery Late 1920s, economies = recovering Dawes Plan 1924 helped Germany out of its economic crisis Also helped BR and FR’s economies Trading relations improved between these countries (Germany joined League in 1926) When countries trade = less likely to go to war