The League of Nations A Joshi Presentation 1 The League of Nations

The League of Nations A Joshi Presentation 2 Aims: THE LEAGUE COVENANT ‘To promote international co-operation and to achieve international peace and security.’ By leaving war as a LAST RESORT; By leaving war as a LAST RESORT; By open, just and honourable relations between nations; By open, just and honourable relations between nations; By establishing international law; By establishing international law; By maintaining all treaties and related obligations. By maintaining all treaties and related obligations.

The League of Nations A Joshi Presentation 3 Structure ASSEMBLY COUNCIL SECRETARIAT Special Commissions drugshealthmandatesrefugeesslaverydisarmament International Labour Organisation Permanent Court of Justice

The League of Nations A Joshi Presentation 4 Who Didn’t Join United States of America – US senate feared League Covenant would replace US constitution. United States of America – US senate feared League Covenant would replace US constitution. Union of Socialist Soviet Republics – excluded as it’s government was unrecognised, but was later admitted in 1934 and again unfairly expelled for aggression against Finland in Union of Socialist Soviet Republics – excluded as it’s government was unrecognised, but was later admitted in 1934 and again unfairly expelled for aggression against Finland in Defeated Nations - all excluded at first, later allowed in. (Germany joined in 1926 under Stresemann, and left in 1933 under Hitler.) Defeated Nations - all excluded at first, later allowed in. (Germany joined in 1926 under Stresemann, and left in 1933 under Hitler.) N.B. Italy and Japan (permanent members of the council) subsequently left it in 1937 and 1933 respectively. N.B. Italy and Japan (permanent members of the council) subsequently left it in 1937 and 1933 respectively.

The League of Nations A Joshi Presentation 5 How was the League Weakened? SELFISH NATIONALISM vs. INTERNATIONALISM SELFISH NATIONALISM vs. INTERNATIONALISM Britain & France dominated; but refused to give it any real power. Britain & France dominated; but refused to give it any real power. Defeated Nations saw it as a ‘Victors Club’ – RESENTMENT Defeated Nations saw it as a ‘Victors Club’ – RESENTMENT Lack of US backing meant there were fewer funds as well as military muscle. Lack of US backing meant there were fewer funds as well as military muscle. Too much idealism Too much idealism Unanimous voting Unanimous voting

The League of Nations A Joshi Presentation 6 Successes Aaland Islands (1921) Aaland Islands (1921) Albania (1921) Albania (1921) Economic Collapse of ex-Hapsburg empire (1922-3) Economic Collapse of ex-Hapsburg empire (1922-3) Greco-Bulgarian dispute (1925) Greco-Bulgarian dispute (1925) Upper Silesia (1921) Upper Silesia (1921) Memel (1923) Memel (1923) The Saar (1935) The Saar (1935)

The League of Nations A Joshi Presentation 7 Failures Vilna (1920) Vilna (1920) Corfu (1923) Corfu (1923) The Ruhr (1923) The Ruhr (1923) Spanish Civil War(1936-9) Spanish Civil War(1936-9) Mukden Incident (1931-3) Mukden Incident (1931-3) ABYSSINIA ABYSSINIA(1935-6)

The League of Nations A Joshi Presentation 8 WHY? Rise in political extremism & militarism due to: WALL STREET CRASH!

The League of Nations A Joshi Presentation 9 Manchuria (1931-3) (1931-3) Part of weak Northern China – rich in coal and haematite. Part of weak Northern China – rich in coal and haematite. Japanese Kwantung Army in southern Manchuria - protect territory gained from Russia (1905) as well as Railway. Japanese Kwantung Army in southern Manchuria - protect territory gained from Russia (1905) as well as Railway. Chinese becoming stronger. Chinese becoming stronger. 18 th September 1931 – Mukden 18 th September 1931 – Mukden 1932 Lytton report: Japan leaves League Lytton report: Japan leaves League. July 1937 Japan takes over mainland China July 1937 Japan takes over mainland China East Asia too far, and Japanese seen to be imposing order in tumultuous China. East Asia too far, and Japanese seen to be imposing order in tumultuous China.

The League of Nations A Joshi Presentation 10 Abyssinia (1935-6) (1935-6) Now Ethiopia: located next to Italian colonies Now Ethiopia: located next to Italian colonies Italy defeated before at Adowa (1896) Italy defeated before at Adowa (1896) Wal Wal (Dec ’35) Wal Wal (Dec ’35) Italy invaded on 3 rd Oct 1935 Italy invaded on 3 rd Oct 1935 no sanctions on coal, oil, iron or Suez canal no sanctions on coal, oil, iron or Suez canal Hoare-Laval Pact Hoare-Laval Pact Addis Ababa taken on 5 May 1936 Addis Ababa taken on 5 May 1936 Haile Selassie addresses League Assembly on 30 th June Haile Selassie addresses League Assembly on 30 th June

The League of Nations A Joshi Presentation 11 The End ‘The real death of the League was in December 1935, not 1939 or One day it was a powerful body imposing sanctions, seemingly more effective than ever before; the next day it was an empty sham, everyone scuttling from it as quickly as possible. What killed the League was the publication of the Hoare-Laval Plan.’

The League of Nations A Joshi Presentation 12 Was it doomed from the start? NO!

The League of Nations A Joshi Presentation 13 Verdict Mainly successful in ’20s Mainly successful in ’20s Good at dealing with small or co- operative nations. Good at dealing with small or co- operative nations. Unable to cope with larger, determined nations Unable to cope with larger, determined nations Weak from the start Weak from the start

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