- 27 Jan 2004 02:15
#280548
In the 1920's the League dealt with several international conflicts, which will be examined in the following way:
1) In which date did the crisis ocurre?
2) Brief explanation of said crisis
3) Decision taken by the League
4) Was the League's decision successful?
The Aaland Islands
1) 1921
2) Sweden and Finland wanted to control the Aaland Islands, which were midway from both countries. They were threatening to fight for them. They called to the league for help.
3) The League studied the causes and decided that the islands should belong to Finland.
4) Yes, it was successful since Sweden agreed and this way they avoided war.
Upper Silesia
1) 1921
2) Germany and Poland both wanted to control Upper Silesia, since it was a very rich territory. In 1920 there was a plebiscite organized for Silesians to vote on which country they wanted to join. The industrial area voted for Germany and the rural area voted for Poland.
3) The League divided the region into two equal parts
4) It was as successful as the event permitted so. The Germans were not pleased with the fact but accepted it, the polish were pleased and it avoiced any type of military conflict.
Corfu Incident
1) 1923
2) The border between Greece and Albania had to be sorted out. On the 27th of August, Tellini and his team were ambushed and killed. Mussolini was furious and blamed the Greeks. On the 29th of August, Mussolini demanded compensation for Italy and his team and execute the murderers. On the 31st of August, Mussolini bombarded and occupied Corfu. 15 people were killed and the Greeks asked the League for help.
3) The League condemned Mussolini's actions. It also suggested that Greece pay reparations but that moneyu should be held by the League. This money would then be payed to Italy if Tellini's murderers were found. The Greeks had to apologize and pay compensations to Italy a few years later. However it was not totally fair with Greece.
4) It was not successful because even though the fighting between Greece and Italy was avoided, the League was undermined by one of its own members (Mussolini). Also, Greece was very angry because the fact that they had to pay compensations was not fair, the league was influenced by Mussolini.
The Geneva Protocol
1) 1924
2) Britain and France drew up in the Geneva Protocol after demonstrating how the league could be undermined by its own members. (Corfu incident)
3) The League decided that if two members were in dispute they would have to ask the League to sort out the disagreement and they would have to accept the Council's decision.
4) No, it was not successful since it weakened the League because Britain didn't sign the protocol after changing Governments.
Memel
1) 1924
2) Lithuania wanted to control Memel since it was a port.
3) The league gave the city to Lithuania because they needed their support so they could help them with protection against Germany.
4) Yes it was successful since there were no disputes and the league had what they wanted, their protection support.
Bulgaria
1) 1925
2) 2 years after Corfu the League was tested again. In October 1925, Greek troops invaded Bulgaria after a shooting incident on the border. Bulgaria appealed for help.
3) The League condemned the Greek action. It ordered Greece to pay reparations to Bulgaria. The Greeks obeyed afraid of disapproval of the major powers in the League.
4) It was successful since the Greeks obeyed and no violent actions took place.
How did the Depression affect the League?
Economic depression harmed the League of Nations in the following ways:
- Economic recovery had reduced international tension so countries were less likely to fight. (Which meant economic collapse, such as the Depression would cause the exact opposite effect, which was a paradox to the very principle of the League of Nations. Wall street crash and economic problems ended this and tension rose again.)
- Britain High unemployment, didn't want too sort out other problems when it had enough at home.
- Germany Unemployment and poverty lead to Nazis being elected. (Which, eventually, duh, meant the Second World War)
- USA Unwilling to support sanctions when iits own trade is a mess.
- Japan Depression lead Japan to take over Manchuria (part of China). (The Manchurian crisis undermined the league)
- Italy Mussolini tried to expand empire. ((Mussolini and his "expansion" were the protagonists of the League's failure)
Abyssinia
1) 1936
2) Italy invaded the horn of Africa, Abyssinia with Mussolini in command.
3) The league had difficulties in deciding the punishment since Italy was a league member. They decided to block their imports and exports.
4) No it was not successful because they decided the punishment too late and so Italy had already taken and kept a major part of Abyssinia.
Manchuria
1) 1931-33
2) Japan invaded Manchuria.
3) The League wanted to give economic sanctions to Japan, since it was very rich and powerful. A sanction would affect the whole world's economy. the League didnt take the risk so they took no action.
4) It was not successful because they didnt do a thing about it and Japan was not punished.
Remilitarisation of the Rhineland
1) 1936
2) Hitler took a very large risk by moving troops into the Rhineland. However he chose the time and place well because France had just signed a treaty with the USSR to protect each other from attack of Germany. Hitler then argued that in the face of such a threat he should be allowed to put the troops on his own frontier.
3) The League couldnt argue against Hitler and they let him place troops in his frontier.
4) No, it was not successful because the remilitarisation would later give origin to violence.
The Weaknesses of the League
- The most powerful nations were not always members of the league, Germany, Russia or the USA for example.
- The father of the League, the USA, was never a part of the League of Nations.
- Each country had a right to veto.
- General Assembly needed 100% of agreement to pass - Unanimous vote.
- It had no army
The Strenghts of the League
- It was a good idea, very idealistic.
- The Special Commissions did some very valuable work
- It made a huge obstacle to slavery
-Refugees Commission - Helped displace people after WW1
- ILO (International Labour Organization)
- It successfully fought for the woman's rights
What is your opinion on the League of Nations given this objective description?
1) In which date did the crisis ocurre?
2) Brief explanation of said crisis
3) Decision taken by the League
4) Was the League's decision successful?
The Aaland Islands
1) 1921
2) Sweden and Finland wanted to control the Aaland Islands, which were midway from both countries. They were threatening to fight for them. They called to the league for help.
3) The League studied the causes and decided that the islands should belong to Finland.
4) Yes, it was successful since Sweden agreed and this way they avoided war.
Upper Silesia
1) 1921
2) Germany and Poland both wanted to control Upper Silesia, since it was a very rich territory. In 1920 there was a plebiscite organized for Silesians to vote on which country they wanted to join. The industrial area voted for Germany and the rural area voted for Poland.
3) The League divided the region into two equal parts
4) It was as successful as the event permitted so. The Germans were not pleased with the fact but accepted it, the polish were pleased and it avoiced any type of military conflict.
Corfu Incident
1) 1923
2) The border between Greece and Albania had to be sorted out. On the 27th of August, Tellini and his team were ambushed and killed. Mussolini was furious and blamed the Greeks. On the 29th of August, Mussolini demanded compensation for Italy and his team and execute the murderers. On the 31st of August, Mussolini bombarded and occupied Corfu. 15 people were killed and the Greeks asked the League for help.
3) The League condemned Mussolini's actions. It also suggested that Greece pay reparations but that moneyu should be held by the League. This money would then be payed to Italy if Tellini's murderers were found. The Greeks had to apologize and pay compensations to Italy a few years later. However it was not totally fair with Greece.
4) It was not successful because even though the fighting between Greece and Italy was avoided, the League was undermined by one of its own members (Mussolini). Also, Greece was very angry because the fact that they had to pay compensations was not fair, the league was influenced by Mussolini.
The Geneva Protocol
1) 1924
2) Britain and France drew up in the Geneva Protocol after demonstrating how the league could be undermined by its own members. (Corfu incident)
3) The League decided that if two members were in dispute they would have to ask the League to sort out the disagreement and they would have to accept the Council's decision.
4) No, it was not successful since it weakened the League because Britain didn't sign the protocol after changing Governments.
Memel
1) 1924
2) Lithuania wanted to control Memel since it was a port.
3) The league gave the city to Lithuania because they needed their support so they could help them with protection against Germany.
4) Yes it was successful since there were no disputes and the league had what they wanted, their protection support.
Bulgaria
1) 1925
2) 2 years after Corfu the League was tested again. In October 1925, Greek troops invaded Bulgaria after a shooting incident on the border. Bulgaria appealed for help.
3) The League condemned the Greek action. It ordered Greece to pay reparations to Bulgaria. The Greeks obeyed afraid of disapproval of the major powers in the League.
4) It was successful since the Greeks obeyed and no violent actions took place.
How did the Depression affect the League?
Economic depression harmed the League of Nations in the following ways:
- Economic recovery had reduced international tension so countries were less likely to fight. (Which meant economic collapse, such as the Depression would cause the exact opposite effect, which was a paradox to the very principle of the League of Nations. Wall street crash and economic problems ended this and tension rose again.)
- Britain High unemployment, didn't want too sort out other problems when it had enough at home.
- Germany Unemployment and poverty lead to Nazis being elected. (Which, eventually, duh, meant the Second World War)
- USA Unwilling to support sanctions when iits own trade is a mess.
- Japan Depression lead Japan to take over Manchuria (part of China). (The Manchurian crisis undermined the league)
- Italy Mussolini tried to expand empire. ((Mussolini and his "expansion" were the protagonists of the League's failure)
Abyssinia
1) 1936
2) Italy invaded the horn of Africa, Abyssinia with Mussolini in command.
3) The league had difficulties in deciding the punishment since Italy was a league member. They decided to block their imports and exports.
4) No it was not successful because they decided the punishment too late and so Italy had already taken and kept a major part of Abyssinia.
Manchuria
1) 1931-33
2) Japan invaded Manchuria.
3) The League wanted to give economic sanctions to Japan, since it was very rich and powerful. A sanction would affect the whole world's economy. the League didnt take the risk so they took no action.
4) It was not successful because they didnt do a thing about it and Japan was not punished.
Remilitarisation of the Rhineland
1) 1936
2) Hitler took a very large risk by moving troops into the Rhineland. However he chose the time and place well because France had just signed a treaty with the USSR to protect each other from attack of Germany. Hitler then argued that in the face of such a threat he should be allowed to put the troops on his own frontier.
3) The League couldnt argue against Hitler and they let him place troops in his frontier.
4) No, it was not successful because the remilitarisation would later give origin to violence.
The Weaknesses of the League
- The most powerful nations were not always members of the league, Germany, Russia or the USA for example.
- The father of the League, the USA, was never a part of the League of Nations.
- Each country had a right to veto.
- General Assembly needed 100% of agreement to pass - Unanimous vote.
- It had no army
The Strenghts of the League
- It was a good idea, very idealistic.
- The Special Commissions did some very valuable work
- It made a huge obstacle to slavery
-Refugees Commission - Helped displace people after WW1
- ILO (International Labour Organization)
- It successfully fought for the woman's rights
What is your opinion on the League of Nations given this objective description?
- By Robert Urbanek
- By noemon
- By litwin