Challenges to the League of Nations Collaborative student prepared summary

DIPLOMACY: U.S. Isolationism British Isolationism Little Entente

US Isolationism–- 1930’s After Great Depression and defeat in WW1, US pledged to not get involved in European or Asian conflicts as well as international politics. Significance= US (superpower) is not helping with the European conflicts. This is not good, as it doesn’t contribute to the attempt of peace, leading to war.

British Isolationism-- Isolationism: National policy of avoiding political or economic entanglements with other countries (Relates to British appeasement in 1935)Hitler went against T.O.V, which brought quick reactions from GB, and Italy. However, Britain later moved towards acceptance of Germany’s right to rearm (appeasement policy) on belief that they could stay out of war (isolationism) Supporting rearmament=going against League of Nations

Little Entente– A mutual defense arrangement between Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and Romania that happened between WW1 and WW2. Purpose was to keep the Hapsburgs from recreating their dynasty and keep Germany under control which France liked Significance= alliance (Little Entente) was created even after League of Nations banned alliances Alliance crumbled in 1938 leaving opportunity for Hitler

DISARMAMAMENT: Washington Naval Conference London Naval Conference Geneva Disarmament Conference

Washington Naval Conference ( ) Attended by GB, Japan, France, Italy ( reduction of naval capacity), Belgium China, Netherlands, Portugal (situation in far east) To prevent another war ( caused by Japanese militarism and international arms race) Immediate impact : impacted ship building programs of signatories, japan suffered politically Long term impact: London Naval Treaty Result: five power treaty, four power treaty and nine power treaty

London Naval Conference (1930) Intended to promote disarmament Lead to restriction on boat load tonnage Upheld and extended treaty from Washington Conference 5 power treaty ending in 1946, which set higher capacities for naval arms allowing some countries to build them

Geneva Disarmament Conference (1932-4) 60 countries including US and Soviet Union to meet to place limits on naval capacity Failed because Hitler pulled out and started arming making WW2 inevitable

COLLECTIVE SECURITY: Rapallo Treaty Geneva Protocol Locarno Treaties German Admission to the League Kellogg-Briand Pact Litvinov Protocol

Rapallo Treaty Created on April 16 th, 22 nd. Formally signed on November 5 th, Formed between Russia and Germany Treaty made to forgive all war debts between the countries and to renounce all territorial and monetary claims that each nation held. Importance: The Rapallo Treaty strengthened Russian, German relations and reestablished normal, pre war, relations between the nations. The treaty angered the Western Allies because it was the first signed independently by Germany since the conclusion of WWI.

Geneva Protocal Created in October 1924 by by Ramsay Macdonald the British prime minister The League of Nations recommended signing it Importance- overcame absence of great powers and resolve deciding which country was the aggressor in a dispute. Agreed to submit disputes to arbitration Members were worried it would involve too many distant affairs. Therefore in May 1925 it was dropped though the idea remained.

Locarno Treaties A series of treaties that accomplished three main goals: 1. Germany, France, Britian, Italy, and Belgium signed treaties confirming Franco German and Belgo- German frontiers. 2. Germany signed arbitration treaties with France, Belgium, Czechoslovakia and Poland. 3. Polish and Czechoslovakia borders secured by France promising aid if Germany invaded and vice versa. Importance- Reinforced Versailles settlement and seemed to secure peace between France and Germany. Flaws- Germany’s western borders were confirmed but Eastern were left unsecure.

German Admission to the League, 1926 Proposed in March, faced opposition from Spain and Brazil Admitted in September as permanent Council member, Brazil left Brought Germany into post-war discussions

Kellogg-Briand Pact, August nations signed treaty renouncing war Signing nations required to negotiate and help stop an aggressive country By Kellogg ( US Secretary of State ) and Briand ( French foreign minister )

Litvinov Protocol, February 1929 Eastern version of Kellogg- Briand Pact However, consequences of causing war not clearly defined The Eastern Countries are working apart from the rest of the League to ensure their own peace and processes. Like Kellogg-Briand there were no parameters set in place for enforcement

ECONOMICS: Dawes Plan Young Plan Great Depression

Dawes Plan (1924) France, Britain, and Germany had new governments which opened the door to conciliatory approaches to aid in Germany’s reparation problem. German government had stabilized their economy with new temporary currency In August 1924, an international commission produced a new plan (Named after American banker). IMPORTANT: Reduced reparation and stabilized Germany’s payment on the basis of paying what they could back. ▫200 Million dollars alone to Germany to pay off ▫Created European prosperity from 1924 to 1929 because of heavy American investment

Young Plan 1929 Reduced expected German reparations after Germany would not willingly pay off the Dawes plan. Reduced total debt by 90% Plan failed, stalled by US because they did not agree to cancel German war debts Then Hitler rose to power, plan became irrelevant

Great Depression Massive worldwide economic depression starting in 1930 until the mid-1940s Worst depression of the 20 th century IMPORTANCE: International trade dropped by 20% unemployment increased to over 25% in many countries All prices fell by 60%

CONFLICT: The Rhur Crisis The Manchurian Crisis The Abyssinian Crisis

CONFLICT: The Ruhr Crisis (1923) Britain wanted an improved German economy; France wanted to weaken German economy, and pay debts to the U.S.A. Germany missed a shipment of timber, so France and Belgium invaded the Ruhr region German workers protested, destroyed goods, mines, and factories Led to violent conflict and inflation in the Weimar republic France agreed to Dawes plan, which reduced reparations, and left occupied regions 1925 Prompted rise of right-wing parties in Weimar republic

CONFLICT: The Manchurian Crisis (1931) A staged dynamite explosion by rogue Japanese military gave the Japanese a pre-text to invade Manchuria Japanese soldiers seized Manchuria for natural resources The League of Nations condemned the Japanese; the Japanese withdrew from the league in 1933 Japan consolidated their hold over Manchuria, then began to expand their control over Northern China Tanggu Truce resulted in cease-fire and a demilitarized zone between China and Manchukuo Provided Chiang Kai-Shek time to consolidate power against Communist party of China

CONFLICT: The Abyssinian Crisis (1935-6) Mussolini realized Italy didn’t have much power in Europe… sought power through colonies in Africa Abyssinia/Ethiopia was the only unclaimed/independent area left in Africa… they went out to claim it It also had oil deposits Economic sanctions were imposed on Italy, but they were ineffective The League of Nations were in a complicated situation, attempted to make a treaty, where Italy would only take 2/3 of Abyssinia, leaving the rest independent, however, this failed Italy took over all Abyssinia by May 1936 Sign that the League of Nations had lost its power