League of Nations Failure Flashcards
Why did the League fail to enforce disarmament? (Britain)
- Led the argument for not abolishing bombers
- Was patronising to Germany in negotiations
- thought TofV was unfair
- Anglo-German naval agreement (1935) allowed Germany to increase the size of the navy beyond limits of TofV
Why did the League fail to enforce disarmament? (Germany)
- Wanted to rearm
- Unfair that they had more limitations
- Walked out of disarmament conference
- Hitler began to rearm Germany + make war based speeches
- Walked out of League
Why did the League fail to enforce disarmament? (France)
- Led argument for no limitations on tank size
- Began rearming because the were worried about Hitler’s rise to power
Explain the invasion of Manchuria
- In 1931 Japanese claimed that Chinese soldiers had sabotaged the South Manchurian railway
- they overran Manchuria and threw out chinese forces
- Japan set up puppet government and bombed Shanghai in 1932
Explain the response + effects of the invasion of Manchuria
- When China appealed to the League for help, Japan argued that they acted in self-defence. –The league reported (after taking a year to arrive in Manchuria) that Manchuria should be returned to china
- All 43 countries except Japan voted in favour of the report + Japan resigned from the League in anger
- Japan ignored the report and there was no league army to stop them
- They invaded Jehol one week later
- No standing army to remove forces (and Br + Fr had colonies in close proximity to Japan so didn’t want to cause anger)
Why was Mussolini interested in Abyssinia?
- Personal glory and propaganda
- Revenge for the 1896 Adowa defeat
- Economic reasons: agriculture + minerals
- Distract Italians from economic depression
How did the Abyssinian incident begin?
- Dispute between Italian + Ethiopian soldiers
- Mussolini claimed that Wal-wal was Italian territory
- He demanded an apology for the Ethiapian soldiers attacking first (when really Itaians did)
- He prepared an army for invasion of Abyssinia
- The emperor Haile Selassi appealed to the League for help
What caused Britain and France to take a tougher stance with Abyssina?
- Public outcry against Italy
- Majorirty of British wanted to defend Abyssinia
- Politicians needed to keep citizens happy for popularity - autumn elections were close
What was the Leagues proposal regarding Abyssinia and how did Mussolini react?
4th Septemper 1935- League proposed that they would give Musslini some of Abyssinia
Leagues actions regarding Italy’s punishment for invasion of Abyssinia?
- Ban on arms sales to Italy
- Ban on loans
- Ban on all imports from Italy
- Ban on exports to Italy of rubber, tin and other metals
-France insisted on giving Mussolini 2/3 Abyssinia for calling off the invasion.
League non actions regarding Italy’s punishment for invasion of Abyssinia?
- Did not immediately ban oil exports to Italy - risks economy of League members + America wouldnt support sanctions
- The Suez Canal (owned by Br + Fr) was not closed to Mussolini’s supply ships because they feared war with Italy
How did Mussolini obtain Abyssina?
What were the international consequences?
- Hitler marches troops into Rhineland
- French desperate for support of Italy (prepared to give Abyssinia to Mussolini)
- Haile Selassie forced into exile
- Mussolini captures Abyssinia
- Mussolini + Hitler signed an agreement (Rome-Berlin)
Main reason for League failure?
- Self Interests of Britain and France
- No standing Army
- Absence of key powers
- Presence and actions of aggressive countries
- The world depression
