THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Whose Idea? The League of Nations was the idea of Woodrow Wilson, the US President in 1919. It was suggested at the Paris Peace Conference

The Idea Wilson’s Idea was to try to make sure that countries could never start a World War again He wanted to make sure countries talked about their problems instead of fighting The League of Nations started at the end of World War One. It was set up to prevent war in the future. President Woodrow Wilson of U.S.A. suggested creating an international organization whose purpose was to keep world peace. It would sort out arguments between countries. It was called the League of Nations. BUT the United States never joined the League of Nations. Others joined but later left the organization: Japan (1933), Italy (1937). Germany was only a member from 1926 to 1933, Soviet Union was only a member from 1934 to 1940.

It was decided that an organisation called The League of Nations Should be set up It would be an organisation which would try to promote peace in the world It was hoped that it would stop countries from making secret treaties or agreements

How the league worked If any nations had problems they would try to talk it out If this didn’t work and a country was attacked, the other members would go to its help The League also wanted to help to solve some of the World’s problems: e.g. Poverty, Drugs etc.

Problem 1 The League did not include the USA or Russia, Two of the World’s major powers                                                                                              

Problem 2 Germany was not included                                                                               

Problem 3 The League did not have it’s own army to back up any decisions.

Success of L.o.N The Aaland Islands (1921) – Dispute between Sweden and Finland. Upper Silesia (1921) – Dispute over being part of Germany or Poland. Memel (1923) – Dispute over area called Memel that was mostly made up of Lithuanians. Turkey (1923) - The League failed to stop a bloody war in Turkey (see League failures) but it did respond to the humanitarian crisis caused by this war. Greece and Bulgaria (1925) – dispute over the death of a Greek Soldier and Greece invaded Bulgaria.

The League was too closely linked with the Treaty of Versailles and many who had been treated badly by it were suspicious of the League.

Failures of the L of N Article 11 of the League’s Covenant stated: "Any war or threat of war is a matter of concern to the whole League and the League shall take action that may safe guard peace.“

Failures of the L.o.N Italy 1919 The first crisis the League had to face was in north Italy In 1919, Italian nationalists, angered that the "Big Three" had, in their opinion, broken promises to Italy at the Treaty of Versailles, captured the small port of Fiume. The Treaty of Versailles had given this port to Yugoslavia. For 15 months, an Italian nationalist called d’Annunzio governed Fiume. The newly created League did nothing. The situation was solved by the Italian government who could not accept that d’Annunzio was seemingly more popular than they were – so they bombarded the port of Fiume and enforced a surrender The league of Nations did nothing.

Most famous failures In 1923 France occupied the Ruhr (German land), but the League failed to condemn this act. In 1931 Japan invaded Manchuria (part of China). The League failed to persuade Japan to withdraw its troops and Japan then left the League in 1933. In 1935 Italy invaded Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) in defiance of the League's economic sanctions but the League failed to act

Also… 1920-1: War between Russia and Poland 1923: The Corfu Crisis

These failures were often the result of the League being a large institution of competing interests. It often took far too long to come to decisions, and many countries, especially during the Depression, focused on their own problems and were unwilling to become involved in the problems of other countries. In addition, the more powerful countries were indifferent to the institution and did not feel threatened by it.