2. Between Two Fires Post-War General Conditions

3. Between Two Fires Peace of Paris Angered: 1.Germany (war guilt clause; lost colonies; reparations; not invited to talks) 2.Italy (1915 land promises not fulfilled)

4. 3. USSR (new communists not trusted; no help from the West; civil war rages on…) 4. Japan (land promises not fulfilled) 5. Jews and Arabs (Balfour Declaration broken)

5. Civil War ended: 1921 Russia in BAD shape! Small States: Self- Determination Massive War Reparations Huge Debt: Need Reparatio ns & Markets

6. America: High Tariffs Discourage Imports Europe: Need Markets/B uyers Debase Currency: Inflation up – discourages Growth Can ’ t sell at home… can ’ t sell abroad… Creditor Nation: Over Investment in Stock Market: Over Production: NO BUYERS!!!

7. Economies The Great War caused – Unemployment – Overproduction – Inflation World-wide depression: air of desperation

8. Anger, Bitterness, and Desperation These emotions led to the rise of totalitarianism People looked to any charismatic leader for help – Germany: Hitler – Italy: Mussolini – USSR: Stalin – Japan: War Hawk Generals

9. Desperation and Horror In the West, economic disasters created the need for charismatic leaders – USA: FDR – UK: Chamberlain Horrors of WWI led to unrealistic treaties – Locarno – Kellogg-Briand – Washington Conference

10. General ‘Pacts’ and Agreements League of Nations Enunciated by US President Wilson in his 14 Points & included in the Treaty of Versailles League’s Purpose: – Work for international friendship, peace, and security – To attain this, it was greed that war would be avoided, peaceful relations would be maintained, and international law and accords would be honored

11. Headquarters in Geneva 26 Article Covenant to determine membership and withdrawal The Council: – 5 Permanent members (France, Italy, England, Japan, US) US seat left vacant because US Congress refused to ratify the Treaty of Versailles Germany filled the US vacancy in 1926 – 4 one-year Rotating seats (increased to 6 in 1922) – 1 Vote per member

12. Powers of the Council – Discuss threats to international stability – Recommend action to member states – Could seek ways to reduce arms strength – Can search for ways to stop war & aggression – Suggest economic sanctions and other tactics to enforce decisions Assembly – Legislative body of the League – Similar discussion & debating authority – No real Legislative powers

13. Permanent Court of International Justice (World Court) – Located at the Hague in the Netherlands – Would consider any case brought before it – Acted as arbiter – Decisions were not binding – it relied on voluntary submission to decisions Other parts to the League – Secretariat – International Labor Organization (ILO) – Mandates Commission – Etc…

14. Washington Conference (1921-1922) Designed to deal with problems of disarmament Participants were major powers in Europe and Asia Results: – Washington Naval Treaty (Five Power Treaty) Halted battleship construction for 10 years Limited shipping levels – Four Power Treaty US, England, France, Japan agreed to not seek further Pacific expansion

15. Washington Conference cont. – Nine Power treaty 9 powers agreed to return China’s Kiachow territory to China Guaranteed China’s independence and territorial autonomy

16. Draft Treaty of Mutual Assistance (1923) Meant to determine aggressor in a conflict and provide support for the victim Designed to target nations that did not reduce arms Approved by League’s Assembly, however only France, Italy, and Japan actually supported it

17. Geneva Protocol (1924) Locarno Pact (1925) Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928) Go online and provide details for these Pacts