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

The League of NationsThe League of Nations A Joshi PresentationA Joshi Presentation 11

The League of NationsThe League of Nations


Aims: THE LEAGUE COVENANTAims: THE LEAGUE COVENANT

‘‘To promote international co-operation To promote international co-operation and to achieve international peace and to achieve international peace and security.’and security.’

By leaving war as a LAST RESORT;By leaving war as a LAST RESORT; By open, just and honourable By open, just and honourable

relations between nations;relations between nations; By establishing international law;By establishing international law; By maintaining all treaties and By maintaining all treaties and

related obligations.related obligations.


StructureStructure

ASSEMBLY

COUNCIL

SECRETARIAT

Special Commissions

drugs

International Labour Organisation

Permanent Court of Justice

refugeesmandateshealth slavery disarmament


Who Didn’t JoinWho Didn’t Join United States of AmericaUnited States of America – US senate feared – US senate feared

League Covenant would replace US constitution.League Covenant would replace US constitution. Union of Socialist Soviet RepublicsUnion of Socialist Soviet Republics – –

excluded as it’s government was unrecognised, excluded as it’s government was unrecognised, but was later admitted in 1934 and again unfairly but was later admitted in 1934 and again unfairly expelled for aggression against Finland in 1939.expelled for aggression against Finland in 1939.

Defeated Nations Defeated Nations - all excluded at first, later - all excluded at first, later allowed in. (Germany joined in 1926 under allowed in. (Germany joined in 1926 under Stresemann, and left in 1933 under Hitler.)Stresemann, and left in 1933 under Hitler.)

N.B. N.B. Italy and Japan (permanent members of the Italy and Japan (permanent members of the council) subsequently left it in 1937 and 1933 council) subsequently left it in 1937 and 1933 respectively.respectively.


How was the League Weakened?How was the League Weakened?

SELFISH NATIONALISM vs. SELFISH NATIONALISM vs. INTERNATIONALISMINTERNATIONALISM

Britain & France dominated; but refused to Britain & France dominated; but refused to give it any real power.give it any real power.

Defeated Nations saw it as a ‘Victors Club’ Defeated Nations saw it as a ‘Victors Club’ – – RESENTMENTRESENTMENT

Lack of US backing meant there were Lack of US backing meant there were fewer funds as well as military muscle.fewer funds as well as military muscle.

Too much idealismToo much idealism Unanimous votingUnanimous voting


SuccessesSuccesses

Aaland Islands (1921)Aaland Islands (1921) Albania (1921)Albania (1921) Economic Collapse of Economic Collapse of

ex-Hapsburg empire ex-Hapsburg empire (1922-3)(1922-3)

Greco-Bulgarian Greco-Bulgarian dispute (1925)dispute (1925)

Upper Silesia (1921)Upper Silesia (1921) Memel (1923)Memel (1923)

The Saar (1935)The Saar (1935)


FailuresFailures

Vilna (1920)Vilna (1920) Corfu (1923)Corfu (1923) The Ruhr (1923)The Ruhr (1923)

Spanish Civil Spanish Civil War(1936-9)War(1936-9)

Mukden Incident Mukden Incident (1931-3)(1931-3)

ABYSSINIAABYSSINIA

(1935-6)(1935-6)


WHY?WHY?

Rise in political extremism & militarism due Rise in political extremism & militarism due to:to:

WALLWALLSTREETSTREETCRASH!CRASH!


ManchuriaManchuria (1931-3)(1931-3) Part of weak Northern China – Part of weak Northern China –

rich in coal and haematite.rich in coal and haematite. Japanese Japanese Kwantung ArmyKwantung Army in in

southern Manchuria - protect southern Manchuria - protect territory gained from Russia territory gained from Russia (1905) as well as Railway.(1905) as well as Railway.

Chinese becoming stronger.Chinese becoming stronger. 1818thth September 1931 – September 1931 –

MukdenMukden 1932 Lytton report: Japan 1932 Lytton report: Japan

leaves League.leaves League. July 1937 Japan takes over July 1937 Japan takes over

mainland Chinamainland China East Asia too far, and East Asia too far, and

Japanese seen to be imposing Japanese seen to be imposing order in tumultuous China.order in tumultuous China.


AbyssiniaAbyssinia (1935-6)(1935-6) Now Ethiopia: located next Now Ethiopia: located next

to Italian coloniesto Italian colonies Italy defeated before at Italy defeated before at

Adowa (1896)Adowa (1896) Wal Wal (Dec ’35)Wal Wal (Dec ’35) Italy invaded on 3Italy invaded on 3rdrd Oct Oct

19351935 no sanctions on coal, oil, no sanctions on coal, oil,

iron or Suez canaliron or Suez canal Hoare-Laval PactHoare-Laval Pact Addis Ababa taken on 5 Addis Ababa taken on 5

May 1936May 1936 Haile Selassie addresses Haile Selassie addresses

League Assembly on 30League Assembly on 30thth JuneJune


The EndThe End

‘‘The real death of the League was in The real death of the League was in December 1935, not 1939 or 1945. December 1935, not 1939 or 1945. One day it was a powerful body One day it was a powerful body imposing sanctions, seemingly more imposing sanctions, seemingly more effective than ever before; the next effective than ever before; the next day it was an empty sham, everyone day it was an empty sham, everyone scuttling from it as quickly as scuttling from it as quickly as possible. What killed the League was possible. What killed the League was the publication of the Hoare-Laval the publication of the Hoare-Laval Plan.’Plan.’


Was it doomed from the start?Was it doomed from the start?

NO!NO!


VerdictVerdict

Mainly successful in ’20sMainly successful in ’20s Good at dealing with small or co-Good at dealing with small or co-

operative nations.operative nations. Unable to cope with larger, Unable to cope with larger,

determined nationsdetermined nations Weak from the startWeak from the start

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Thank YouThank You

For your attention.For your attention.

Documents

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