League of Nations Flashcards - Source Paper (2)
(114 cards)
1
Q
What did Woodrow Wilson want the LoN to be?
A
like a world parliament, where representatives meet together to decide on matters affecting them all
2
Q
What did many British leaders want the LoN to be?
A
Simple organisation only meeting in emergencies, like the conference of ambassadors
3
Q
What did France want the LoN to be/
A
a strong League with its own army
4
Q
Wilson’s plan for the League (February 1919)
A
All major nations disarm, if disputing they take it to League they promised to accept decision made by League. They also promised to protect one another if invaded. if any member breaks Covenant and go to war, other members promise to stop trading and send troops if necessary.
5
Q
American Criticisms of League
A
League enforces ToV which many Americans with German ancestors hate, no one wanted US soldiers being killed in
little conflicts because if League’s promise, imposing sanctions might harm US business and trade, league might be opportunity for UK and France to defend empires, many in US anti-empire
6
Q
When was the first time Congress voted against the League?
A
1919
7
Q
When was the second time Congress rejected the League?
A
March 1920, when Wilson became seriously ill after stroke, and he was defeated by 49 votes to 35
8
Q
result of Congress voting against the League
A
The USA never joined the League of Nations
9
Q
Why did republican candidates beat out democrats around time of Congress’ rejection of the League?
A
Warren Harding campaigned for isolationist America, slogan -> ‘return to normalcy’ (life before war, USA isolating from European affairs)
10
Q
Aims of the League of Nations (set out by Covenant)
A
Discourage aggression from any nation, encourage countries to co-operate, especially in business and trade, encourage nations to disarm, improve living and working conditions of people in all parts of world
11
Q
What was Article 10 of the Covenant?
A
collective security - by acting together, the members of the League could prevent war by defending the land and interests of all nations, large or small
11
Q
What was the covenant?
A
a collection of 26 Articles or rules, which all members of the League agreed to follow
12
Q
How many members did the League have when it was founded January 1920?
A
42
13
Q
When was the League founded?
A
January 1920
14
Q
When was Germany allowed to join the League?
A
1926
15
Q
When was the USSR prevented from joining the League until?
A
1934
16
Q
Why was the USSR prevented from joining the League ?
A
Many members did not trust communist states
17
Q
Who were the main founding members of the League of Nations?
A
France, Britain, Japan, Italy
18
Q
When did the USSR leave the League?
A
1939
19
Q
When did Japan and Germany leave the League?
A
1933
20
Q
When did Italy leave the League?
A
1937
21
Q
Why were Britain and France poorly placed to lead the Leage?
A
Both countries weakened by WW1, neither had resources to fill gap left by USA, felt that USA only nation with resources or influence to make the League work
22
Q
French priorities during League running
A
Main concern Germany, worried that without army of own, League too weak to protect France
23
Q
British priorities during League running
A
rebuilding British trade, looking after British empire
24
What was the council?
met usually 5 times a year, included Permanent members (1920 - UK, Fr, Jap, Italy), temporary members (elected by Assembly for 3 year periods), each of Permanent members had a veto
25
Main aim of Council
to resolve disputes by talking
25
What powers dud the Council have if they couldn't resolve disputes by talking
Moral condemnation (decide who aggressor is, tell them to stop), Economic and Financial sanctions (members of League refuse to trade with aggressor), Military force (armed forces of members used against aggressor)
26
What was the secretariat?
Civil service serving all bodies within league-> Kept records of LoN meetings and prepared reports, had a key role in bringing together experts from across world on health issues, disarmament and economic matters
27
What was the Assembly?
league's parliament, every country in League sent a representative, Assembly could recommend action to Council, could vote on admitting new members into League, met once a year, decisions had to be unanimous
28
What was the permanent court of International justice?
Made up of judges from members, play key role in settling disputes between countries peacefully, if asked could give decision on border dispute, but Court had no way of making sure Countries followed rulings
29
What was the International Labour Organisation (ILO)
Brought together employers, governments and worker representatives, aims to improve conditions of working people around world, collected statistics and info about work conditions and how to improve, tried to persuade members to adopt suggestions
30
What was the Mandates commission?
made up of teams of expert advisers who report to league on how well people in Mandates were being treated, aims to ensure Br and Fr acted in interests of people there, not themselves
31
What was the refugee commission?
managing the thousands of refugees fled from areas of conflict from end of WW1, main concern were former Russian territories
32
What was the slavery commission?
worked to abolish slavery around world, and to help workers not technically slaves but treated like them
33
What was the Health committee?
attempt to deal with dangerous diseases and educate people on health and sanitation. It brought experts together and worked with charities and independent agencies to collect stats about health issues, spread new ideas, develop programmes and fight diseases
34
When were the rights of German settlers protected ?
1923
35
When were prisoners of war repatriated from Siberia?
1920-1922
36
When was there a Bulgarian refugee settlement?
1926
37
When was the Polish-Lithuanian dispute?
1920-1929
38
What provoked the Polish-Lithuanian dispute?
7 October 1920 Vilna (predominantly polish-speaking population) became the new seat of the Lithuanian government after negotiations with League and removal of USSR troops
39
What was the Polish-Lithuanian dispute?
on 9 October 1920 Vilna annexed by Polish army, Lithuania appealed to League
40
Result of Polish-Lithuanian dispute?
League ordered Polish army to withdraw and wait for plebiscite, Poland refused, League powerless to stop conflict, Br and Fr not prepared to escalate the situation
41
When were the Aaland Islands dispute?
1921
42
What were the Aaland island disputes?
Aaland Island Finnish territory but population many Swedish, many islanders wanted independence from Finland, League investigated dispute and awarded islands to Finland, protection for Swedish islanders (removal of Finnish troops), both countries accepted League's decision
43
When was the Corfu crisis?
1923
44
What provoked the conflict in Corfu?
When an Italian general (Tellini) supervising the border between Albania and Greece on 27 August is ambushed and killed on the Greek side with his team, Mussolini blamed the Greek Government for this, and on 31 August Mussolini occupied Corfu, 15 people killed
45
Impact of Corfu
Greece appealed to League, 7 September League condemned Mussolini's actions, suggested Greece pay compensation but League holds this to be paid to Italy if Tellini's killers found
46
Mussolini's reaction to League's decision in Corfu
he demanded dispute be settled by Conference of Ambassadors because Council of League not competent to deal with it, he threatened to leave the League
47
End result of Corfu crisis
Mussolini got his way, Conference of Ambassadors made final ruling on dispute, League's ruling changed to ordering Greeks to apologise and pay compensation to Italy directly, 27 September Mussolini withdrew from Corfu
48
When was the Bulgaria crisis?
1925
49
What was the Bulgaria crisis?
October 1925, Greek troops invaded Bulgaria after Greek soldiers killed on incident on border. Bulgaria appealed for help, also sent instructions to its army.
50
What was the reaction of the league to the Bulgaria crisis?
the secretary General of the League acted quick, calling League Council meeting in Paris, League demanded both sides stand down and Greek forces withdraw from Bulgaria, Br and Fr back LoN judgement, and observers assessing situation judged in favour of Bulgarians.
51
How much did Greece have to pay in compensation following invasion of Bulgaria?
£45,000, threatened with sanctions if not follow ruling
52
What was the Greek reaction to the League's ruling in Bulgaria?
Greeks obeyed but complained larger states getting away with it
53
Why was the failure of disarmament damaging to the League's reputation?
Germany disarmed, had been forced to, no other countries disarmed to same extent, not prepared to give up armies and to be first to disarm
54
When and what was the Washington Conference?
1921 - USA, Br, fr, Jap agree to limit size of their navies
55
When and what was the Rapallo Treaty?
1922 - USSR and Germany re-established diplomatic relations
56
When and what was the Dawes plan?
1924 - to avert terrible economic crisis in Germany, USA lent money to Germany to help pay reparations bill
57
When and what were the Locarno treaties?
1925 - Germany accepted its western borders set out in ToV, paved way for Ger joining LoN
58
When and what was the Kellog-Briand pact?
1928 - 65 nations agreed to not use force to settle disputes (Pact of Paris)
59
When and what was the Young Plan?
1929 - reduced Germany's reparation's payments
60
How was political tension reduced in 1920s?
Increased trade between countries, means less likely to go to war with one another
61
what did Historian Sara Steiner say the league was very effective in handling?
the small changes of international diplomacy
62
league's success in refugee work
in first few years 400,000 prisoners returned to homes, League acted quickly to stamp out diseases in refugee camps caused by refugee crisis in Turkey 1922
63
League's failure in refugee work
constantly short of funds
64
League's success in working conditions
ILO banned poisonous white lead from paint, and limiting hours that children allowed to work. Campaigned strongly for better working conditions, introduced resolution for 48 max hour week, eight hour day
65
league's failure in working conditions
Majority if members refused to adopt changes, because costs industries too much, ILO hampered by lack of funding and power
66
League's success in Health
Collected stats, spread good practices, sponsored research into infectious diseases, institutes developed vaccines and medicines to fight deadly diseases, changed into World Health Organisation after 1945
67
League's success in Slavery and forced labour
helped free 200,000 slaves in Br-owned Sierra Leone, organised raids against slave traders in Burma, challenged use of forced labour to build Tanganyika Railway in Africa, and brought death toll from building railway from 50% to 4%
68
Other successes for League
Blacklisted 4 large German, Swiss, French and Dutch companies involved in illegal drug trade. Also made recommendations on practical problems such as marking shipping lanes, produced international highway code for road users
69
When was the Wall street Crash?
1929
70
What was the result of the Depression in the 1930s?
US loans dried up, businesses went bankrupt, lots of unemployment, tariffs put on imports meant trade became worse
71
Why did countries begin rearming after the Depression?
to get industries working and giving jobs to unemployed
72
Italian response to depression
Econ problems encourage Mussolini to build overseas empire, to distract people attention from difficulties government faced
73
German response to depression
Unemployment, poverty and chaos ensued. Germany's weak leaders unable to do anything. Support for Nazi party rose , Hitler appointed chancellor 1933.
74
USA response to Depression
Depression made USA unwilling to provide economic sanctions, because makes their economy worse
75
Britain's response to depression
unwilling to help sort out international disputes when own economy failing
76
Japan's response to depression
threatened to bankrupt Japan, main export was silk to USA but USA not buying silk, so Japan had less money to buy food and raw materials. they decide to expand empire to get raw materials they need
77
When was the first invasion of Manchuria
1931, when Chinese troops attacked the Japanese controlled South Manchuria Railway, Japan invaded and set up new government in Manchuko
78
What was China's response to Japan invading Manchuria?
China appeals to League, Japanese argued sef-defense to keep peace in the area
79
What was the Lytton report?
Investigation f the Mukden incident entrusted to Lord Lytton and Lytton commission
80
Result of the Lytton report
took Lytton commission over a year to present the Lytton report September 1932, detailing that Japan had acted unlawfully, and Manchuria to be return to China
81
Japan's response to Lytton report
February 1933 Jap announce intend to invade more of China, in self-defense
82
When was the Lytton report
September 1932
83
What was the Lytton report's approval in February 24 1933?
42 votes approved to 1 vote against - Japan voted against it
84
Japan's response to approval of Lytton report
27 March 1933 Japan left League, next week invaded Jehol
85
What has the disarmament conference achieved by July 1932?
produced resolutions to prohibit bombing of civilians, limit size of artillery, limit tonnage of tanks and prohibit chemical warfare (eventually defeated)
86
when did Germany propose that all countries disarm to their level 'equality' ?
July 1932, when it was refused they walked out
87
When did the British send a letter to Germany agreeing somewhat to equality?
September 1932 (angered them further)
88
When was an agreement reached to treat Germans equally?
December 1932
89
When did Germany announce its return to the Disarmament conference?
January 1933
90
When did Hitler promise to not rearm Germany f in 5 years all other nations destroyed their arms?
May 1933
91
When did Britain produce an ambitious disarmament plan, failing to achieve support at the conference?
June 1933
92
When did Hitler withdraw from the Disarmament conference?
October 1933
93
When did the Disarmament conference end?
1934
94
When and what was the Anglo-German naval pact?
1935 - allowed Germany to build its navy, as long as it stayed under 35% of the size of the British navy
95
Where did Abyssinia border?
Anglo-Egyptian territory of Sudan, British colonies of Uganda, Kenya and British Somaliland
96
What is the background to the Abyssinian crisis?
1896 Italian troops tried to invade Abyssinia, but defeated
97
What provoked Mussolini's attack on Abyssinia?
December 1934 dispute between Italian and Abyssinian soldiers at Wal-Wal Oasis (80km inside Abyssinia), Mussolini declared it his and demanded apology, preparing for invasion, Haile Selassie appealed to League
98
What was Mussolini doing January to October 1935?
negotiating with League to settle dispute whilst sending vast army into Africa
99
When and what was the Stresa Pact?
1935 - formal statement against German rearmament signed with Br and Fr and Italy, commitment to stand united against Germany
100
What did a ballot taken by LoN Union in UK 1934-35 say?
majority of British people supported use of military force to defend Abyssinia
101
What did a committee report to the League about the Abyssinian crisis 4 September 1935?
neither side responsible for Wal-Wal incident, League put forward plan to give Mussolini some of Abyssinia, Mussolini rejects this
102
When did Mussolini launch a full scale invasion?
October 1935
103
League's response to Mussolini's invasion
League banned arms sales to Italy, imports from Italy, exports of rubber, tin and metals, delayed banning oil exports
104
What would be the consequence for banning oil exports to Italy?
30,000 British Coal miners would lose heir jobs
105
Why didn't they block the Suez canal?
Both Br and Fr afraid that closing the canal would result in war with Italy
106
When and what was the Hoare-Laval pact?
December 1935 - Br(Hoare) and Fr(Laval) foreign ministers aimed to give Mussolini 2/3s of Abyssinia in return for calling off invasion
107
Why did American oil producers ramp up their exports to Italy?
Disgusted by Br and Fr refusal to stop Italy
108
When did Hitler march his troops into the Rhineland?
7 March 1936
109
When did Italy take the capital of Abyssinia?
May 1936
110
When was Hailee Selassie forced into exile?
May 2 1936
111
When did Mussolini formally annex Abyssinia?
9 May 1936
112
When and what was the Rome-Berlin Axis agreement?
November 1936 - between Mussolini and Hitler, acted as an alliance
