FAILURES OF COLLECTIVE SECURITY The League of Nations

FAILURES OF COLLECTIVE SECURITY The League of Nations and the Inability to Prevent World War II

DOES EACH CARTOON HAVE A POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE VIEW ON THE LEAGUE?

Collective Security • Wilson’s Fourteen Points set up the League of Nations • Collective Security • Peace could be preserved through countries acting together • Disputes referred to the Assembly • No decision, left to the Council • Covenant • Also aimed to promote disarmament, supervise territories, and promote international good will and cooperation • 32 Allied states originally • International Disputes • Could refer disputes to Permanent Court of International Justice, Arbitration or Council • League could impose economic sanctions, impacted by success of blockade in WWI • Could call for military action, did not have its own forces, little teeth

Structure

Problems for the League in 1920 s Absence of major powers • USA missing weakened potential of collective security • Led to distinctly European organization, continent in decline • Excluded the USSR • League a club for capitalists • Absence of Germany • Initially excluded, victors’ club • Weakness of Central European states • New states struggling politically

Attempts to Strengthen the League • Two attempts to strengthen the League by France in 23 -24 • Draft Treaty of Mutual Assistance • Would have required all members to assist another following aggression • Geneva Protocol of 1924 • Arbitration compulsory in all disputes • Both rejected by Britain • Divided over those who wanted a strong League and those who wanted to be selective • Others not as worried as France

The Ruhr Crisis • For France, security was upholding the Treaty of Versailles • Felt it had been undermined • German political situation meant a government that would not comply • Reparation payments became absent • Germans had protested • Wiesbaden Accords, France would assist Germany by taking raw materials • Germany asks for suspension of payments for four years • France has had enough • With Belgium and Italy, moved troops into the Ruhr Valley in January 1923 • Germany protested under Chancellor Wilhelm Cuno

The Ruhr Crisis • German economy collapsed • Cuno replaced with Gustav Stresemann • Crisis ended with Dawes Plan • Brokered by U. S. • Reparations were reduced, but guaranteed • France accepted this because it brought the Americans back into the picture • Allies recovered more than ever • France withdraws from Ruhr • Had shown weaknesses of the League • France had taken matters into their own hands, a permanent member • Increase of tension between France and Germany

The Rapallo Treaty • April 1922, Germany and Russia • Introduced diplomatic relations and pledged cooperation • Germany recognized the Soviet government and both powers denounced reparations • Close economic cooperation • Germany rearmed and trained secretly in Russia • Made Britain want to be friendlier with Germany

Locarno Era – Improving Europe • Still troops in Rhineland other Germany cities • Stresemann wanted them gone • Locarno Conference in Feb. 1925 • Series of treaties • Guaranteed borders between France, Belgium and Germany • Germany signed treaties with Czechoslovakia and Poland • Brought into League • Gave hope for future security, Locarno Spirit • France had not changed its view of Germany, only its strategy • Both Treaty of Versailles and League of Nations had been undermined

Kellogg-Briand Pact, 1928 • Renounced war as an instrument of national policy • 62 of 64 states signed • High point of Locarno Spirit era • Really, Germany was still recovering, economics were good • Decreased tensions

Young Plan, 1929 • Addressed problems of the Dawes Plan • Further reduced sum of money to be repaid by Germany • Set a date for completion of repayments – 1988 • Continued US involvement in reparation payments • Britain and France agreed to end occupation of the Rhineland early • Most investment in Germany was happening from US capitalists

Why Did Collective Security Fail in the 1930 s? • League had collapsed by 1939 • Depression after October 1929 • World’s economy had been linked to USA • Return to a world of self-interest and military forces • Governments found right-wing political groups difficult to restrict • Heightened fears of the USSR • Expansionism growing in Europe and Asia • Economic sanctions now not an option for the League • Return to old-style diplomacy, outside of the League

Failure of Disarmament • Attempts to reduce weapons through 1920 s • Washington Conference, 1921 -22 • Great Britain, US, Japan built up navies after WWI • Cost was too much • Five Power Treaty • 5: 3: 3 for America, Britain, Japan, ratio of naval tonnage • No new battleships for the next 10 years • Four Power Treaty • USA, Japan, Britain, France, guaranteed possessions in Asia, agreed to come to aid • Nine Power Treaty • Affirmed territorial integrity of China, endorsed Open Door policy • Successful in limiting naval armament • Did not include Germany or Russia

Failure of Disarmament • London Naval Conference, 1930 • Revised the agreement at Washington • 5: 3: 3 now 10: 7 • London Naval Treaty, 1936 • Re-negotiation of London Treaty, 1930 • Japan no longer wishes to limit naval tonnage, walked out • Now going along with Germany in buildup • Geneva Disarmament Conference, 1932 -34 • Facing German threat, disagreements over what should be limited and how • Germany demanded equality of status • 1933, Hitler led Germany out of Conference

The Manchurian Dispute • Japan has an Empire • Mariana and Caroline Islands after WWI • Greatest industrial and trading power in Asia • 1931, Japanese army in Manchuria, claimed that a bomb explosion was evidence of growing disorder • They had actually planted it • Japan attacked China • China appealed to the League • League condemned Japan, ordered it to withdraw • Government accepted, army did not • Appointed a commission, invasion already complete though • Instructed members not to recognize Manchukuo • Japan left the League • Claimed hypocrisy by Britain

The Manchurian Dispute • Impact of the Depression causes member states to be too troubled with their own domestic situations • Unwilling to apply economic sanctions • Japan’s main trading link was USA, not even a member • Military solution was problematic • Manchuria was remote, inaccessible • Only Britain or USA could have done it • • Dire failure for the League China had no practical support Mussolini encouraged Starting point for dominance of Japanese militarism

The Abyssinian Crisis • 1932, Mussolini began planning annexation of Abyssinia (Ethiopia) • Wanted to secure North African Empire, distract his people from the impact of the Depression • Would link Eritrea with Italian Somaliland • First conflict Dec. 1934, full scale invasion Oct. 1935 • Knew the League would let him do it • Britain and France afraid to lose him as an ally against Germany • Brutality of the assault was too much • League condemned Italy • Escalating program of sanctions • Britain and France worked for settlement outside of the League • Italy held Mediterranean Sea

The Abyssinian Crisis • League sanctions had no effect on Italy • Mussolini in control of Abyssinia by May 1936 • Abyssinian Crisis was a disaster • Permanent member had again ignored the League and been victorious through war • Proved self-interest was more important • Italy, now isolated from Allies, moved towards Germany • Hitler exploits the League with militarization of the Rhineland in March 1936 • Final nail in the coffin, failure

LIMITED SUCCESSES

Peacekeeping 1920 -25 • Aaland Islands, 1920 • Populated by Swedes • Collapse of Russian empire, Finland claimed sovereignty • Sweden accepted the League’s decision to give them to Finland

Peacekeeping 1920 -25 • Vilna, 1920 -23 • Poland Lithuania wanted control of town of Vilna • Once the capital of the latter, people were Polish • League unable to prevent the Poles from seizing it by force • Conference of Ambassadors awarded it to Poland

Peacekeeping 1920 -25 • Upper Silesia, 1921 • Both Germany and Poland wanted control of this industrial area • League split the area between the two

Peacekeeping 1920 -25 • Corfu, 1923 • Three Italian army officers shot while working on a boundary dispute between Greece and Albania • Mussolini blamed Greece and ordered compensation • Greeks did not pay, Italy occupied Corfu • Greece appealed to the League, but Italy ignored them • Left when compensation was paid

Peacekeeping 1920 -25 • Mosul, 1924 • Claimed by Turkey and Iraq • Awarded the territory to Iraq, decision accepted • Bulgaria, 1925 • Greek invasion of Bulgaria • League ordered both armies to stop fighting • Investigation blamed the Greeks • Accepted it and paid compensation

Reviewing the post-war world. WHAT ARE THE MOTIVATIONS/GOALS OF YOUR COUNTRY FOLLOWING WWI?

Simulation of Manchuria and Abyssinia Manchuria • • China – Saaketh, Garbrielle, Emma Japan – Alexandra, Isabel, Ethan Britain – Taseen, Joanna, Shaina France – Vineeth, Eliza, Brendon Italy – Bryan, Dan, Patrick United States – Anshul, Ben, Alex LON Spokesman – Shruthi, Aneesha, Colin • What is your position on the action? Abyssinia – Anshul, Ben, Alex Italy – Bryan, Dan, Patrick France – Shruthi, Aneesha, Colin Britain – Vineeth, Eliza, Brendon United States – Alexandra, Isabel, Ethan • Germany – Saaketh, Garbrielle, Emma • LON Spokesman – Taseen, Joanna, Shaina • • • What action should the League take? What is the impact on your nation?

Simulation of Manchuria and Abyssinia Manchuria • • China – Emily, Grace Z, Aya Japan – Nate, Jeffrey, Johnny Britain – Gaby, Grace P France – Matteo, Jeff Italy – Mary, Shivani United States – Sid, Ricky, Caitlin LON Spokesman – Roy, Lauren, Alison • What is your position on the action? Abyssinia • • Abyssinia – Sid, Ricky, Caitlin Italy – Matteo, Jeff France – Shruthi, Aneesha, Colin Britain – Nate, Jeffrey, Johnny United States – Roy, Lauren, Alison Germany – Emily, Grace Z, Aya LON Spokesman – Gaby, Grace P • What action should the League take? What is the impact on your nation?