Successes and failures of the League in settling the international disputes of the 1920s Flashcards
(6 cards)
What were the League of Nations’ successes in the 1920s?
During the 1920s, the League saw some significant successes.
(1) It successfully solved disputes in the Aaland Islands, Teschen, Mosul and Bulgaria.
(2) The League largely changed the way countries dealt with one another, handled problems, and solved global disputes.
(3) The League gave confidence to smaller nations which could not protect themselves.
(4) The League was successful in rebuilding post-war Europe.
(5) The World Health Organisation ran many successful campaigns and set up research institutes.
(6) The Refugees’ Commission successfully repatriated thousands of prisoners of war.
(7) The International Labour Organisation began to pave the way for workers’ rights, offering a minimum wage and suggested work hours.
(8) The Slavery Commission worked to get rid of slavery and prostitution globally.
(9) The Economic and Financial Committee sent experts to help countries such as Austria and Hungary, whose
economies were nearly bankrupt.
(10) The other commissions worked to improve life for people across the world
What were the League of Nations’ failures in the 1920s?
The League was not completely successful in the 1920s
(1) Its decisions in disputes over Corfu and Vilna were seen as unfair, as was its failure to act over the Ruhr.
(2) The International Labour Organisation failed to force countries to introduce better working practices.
(3) The failure to disarm other nations was damaging to the League’s reputation and caused even more resentment from Germany, which had been forced to disarm.
(4) The League showed itself to be biased towards larger, more powerful nations. This was clear during the Corfu crisis.
(5) The League’s most powerful members, Britain and France, prioritised their own needs before those of the League.
(6) Without an army of its own, the League showed it could only use moral condemnation and sanctions to make a country back down.
(7) Some world problems required agreements outside of the League. For example, the Dawes Plan and the Locarno Pact demonstrated the League was not fully effective at dealing with the issue of Franco-German relations.
What were the League of Nations’ successes in the 1930s?
The League had 2 important successes
The Saar Commission successfully organised a plebiscite, where the population voted to reunite with Germany in 1935.
The League successfully convened 26 nations to combat the dangerous selling of illegal drugs. This still functions
today
What were the League of Nations’ failures in the 1930s?
The League’s failures in the 1930s far outweighed its successes.
(1) With the global Depression after 1929, the League faced many challenges it had not previously encountered.
(2) The Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931 showed the League was slow to act and powerless. Although the League condemned Japan’s actions, it could not do anything to stop them.
(3) Following the invasion of Manchuria, the Japanese withdrew from the League and continued to invade other parts of
China. This was a huge embarrassment to the organisation.
(4) At the Disarmament Conference, Germany walked out early over unfair treatment. Although it later returned, Hitler secretly began to rearm. By October, Germany again withdrew from the conference, and shortly after from the League itself.
(5) The Disarmament Conference failed for many reasons, as few members seriously considered disarming. It also saw Britain and France were divided on what to do with Germany.
(6) Mussolini’s invasion of Abyssinia in 1935 was the final blow to the League of Nations. Once again it was slow to act and did little to discourage Italian aggression, wanting to retain an ally against Hitler.
(7) Equally damaging was the secret deal created by the British and French foreign ministers, Hoare and Laval. They planned to offer Mussolini two thirds of Abyssinia in return for his withdrawal. They didn’t consult the League or the Abyssinian emperor, or seek approval, first.
(8) As a result of the Abyssinian Crisis, the League was viewed as insignificant in international affairs from then on.
What were the League of Nations’ overall successes?
The League had mixed success in its lifetime and did solve some disputes in the 1920s. Overall, the League’s biggest success came from commissions that sought to fix global issues.
What were the League of Nations overall failures?
The League fell very short of Wilson’s ideal. It was weakened by a lack of key members and an army of its own. This, along with the Depression and the self-interest of France and Britain, meant it was unprepared for dealing with aggressive nations in the 1930s.
