League of Nations Short Summary
History
League of Nations League of Nations * * League of Nations: The goal was to create an organisation that would prevent war and resolve conflict by discussing issues in a peaceful manner. Wilson’s idea. Based in Geneva because it was neutral.
Aims
* Discourage aggression from any nation * Encourage countries to cooperate, especially in business and trade * Encourage nations to disarm * Improve the living and working conditions of people in all parts of the world
Strengths * Main strength: it was set up by Treaty of Versailles, which every nation had signed and had 58 nations as members by 1930 * Could offer arbitration
Weaknesses * Everyone nation hated treaty of Versailles * Aims were too ambitious * Germany and Russia were not members until Germany (1926), USSR (1934) * No army * Decisions had to be unanimous * USA refused to join, not good image
Problems of membership * Important members: USSR, Germany, Japan, Britain and France * Germany and Russia were not allowed to join the League at first, which made it look like “Club for winners” under hated Versailles Treaty. This undermined the League’s credibility. * Most powerful members, Britain and France, both had suffered financially and militarily during the war - and neither was enthusiastic to get involved in disputes that did not affect Western Europe. * They felt America was the only one able to make it work * France’s main concern was Germany because it worried that without army of its own the league was too weak to protect France from Germany. This made France prepared to bypass the League if necessary in order to be strong against Germany.
Successes * Aaland Islands * Sweden and Finland wanted control and threatening to fight for it. * The islands were between both countries. * League said the islands should go to Finland, Sweden accepted and war avoided. * Upper Silesia *
League of Nations League of Nations * * League of Nations: The goal was to create an organisation that would prevent war and resolve conflict by discussing issues in a peaceful manner. Wilson’s idea. Based in Geneva because it was neutral.
Aims
* Discourage aggression from any nation * Encourage countries to cooperate, especially in business and trade * Encourage nations to disarm * Improve the living and working conditions of people in all parts of the world
Strengths * Main strength: it was set up by Treaty of Versailles, which every nation had signed and had 58 nations as members by 1930 * Could offer arbitration
Weaknesses * Everyone nation hated treaty of Versailles * Aims were too ambitious * Germany and Russia were not members until Germany (1926), USSR (1934) * No army * Decisions had to be unanimous * USA refused to join, not good image
Problems of membership * Important members: USSR, Germany, Japan, Britain and France * Germany and Russia were not allowed to join the League at first, which made it look like “Club for winners” under hated Versailles Treaty. This undermined the League’s credibility. * Most powerful members, Britain and France, both had suffered financially and militarily during the war - and neither was enthusiastic to get involved in disputes that did not affect Western Europe. * They felt America was the only one able to make it work * France’s main concern was Germany because it worried that without army of its own the league was too weak to protect France from Germany. This made France prepared to bypass the League if necessary in order to be strong against Germany.
Successes * Aaland Islands * Sweden and Finland wanted control and threatening to fight for it. * The islands were between both countries. * League said the islands should go to Finland, Sweden accepted and war avoided. * Upper Silesia *