The League of Nations in the 1930s Economic Depression • 1920s = economic boom in world trade • (US = richest nation in world) • US business drove world economy – everyone traded with the USA - Remember Dawes and Young Plan (Germany’s reparations payments) - Most countries borrowed from American banks • Economic co-operation = important in reducing international tension • 1929 – Wall Street Crash caused a long period of economic depression (known as the Great Depression) - Affected countries everywhere – most NB = US & Eur; led to changes in politics • End of peace and positivity of the 1920s . • Consequences: - US loans dried up - Businesses went bankrupt = unemployment - Countries imposed tariffs (taxes) on imports (goods coming into the country) so that people would invest money in local goods = negative effect on trade (because countries weren’t trading anymore) - Many countries started to rearm: way of creating employment and boosting industries - Rearmament caused other countries to rearm (felt threatened) - INTERNATIONAL TENSION Effects on the USA Effects on Italy • USA refused to help the League with• Mussolini (Italian dictator) tried to build overseas empire (see Abyssinian Crisis enforcing economic sanctions on aggressive countries (even though it 1935-1936) to distract people from was not part of the League) internal problems Effects on Germany Effects on Britain • Affected very badly: unemployment, • Main priority = fix its own economy poverty, political chaos • Not willing to sort out international • Democratic German leaders unable to disputes cope – Hitler elected - Eg did not support sanctions/send • End to international peace troops to Manchuria • Wanted to invade neighbours and regain land lost post-WWI Japan’s invasion of Manchuria 1931 • Since early 1900s, Japan = growing population, industry, strong military, growing empire • Depression almost bankrupted Japan - Main export = silk to USA - USA imported less = meant Japan had les money to buy food and raw materials • Built up an empire by invading weaker countries to gain raw materials • Invaded Manchuria in 1931 REMEMBER JAPAN IS A LEADING MEMBER OF THE LEAGUE How did the Manchurian Crisis weaken the League? First invasion, 1931 • Japanese army controlled South Manchurian railway - Built by Japanese - Carried Japanese goods into Manchuria and transported raw materials (eg coal, iron, timber) into Japan • Mukden incident - Japan claimed that Chinese troops attached the railway - This incident was staged (put on by the Japanese – ie the China was ‘framed’) - Used this as an excuse to invade and set up a puppet government controlled by military • Puppet government = controlled by Japan, even though it was in China • China appealed to League • Japan argued that China was in a state of chaos (partially true) and that Japan was acting in self-defence • LEAGUE = DIFFICULT POSITION • Sent officials to investigate • Presented report in 1932 (a whole year after invasion) • Judgement = Japan had acted unlawfully – should return Manchuria to Chinese Second invasion 1933 • Japan ignored the League – decided to invade more of China “in selfdefence” • League report on Manchuria approved by 42 votes to 1 (only Japan voted against it) • Japan left the League one month later; invaded Jehol province League’s response • Powerless • Without USA (Japan’s main trading partner)= economic sanctions would be unsuccessful • Br more interested in keeping good relationship with Japan than agreeing to sanctions • Member countries couldn’t agree on whether or not to ban arms sales to Japan • Worried that Japan would retaliate = war • Br and Fr refused to risk armies or navies in war with Japan • Only countries which could help = USSR and USA (neither were members of League) Consequences for the League • League gave many excuses - Japan was a special case - Was far away from Europe - China was in a state of crisis • Consequence for League’s reputation = obvious (as critics had predicted) - Powerless when faced with a strong nation with an aggressive foreign policy (attitude/actions towards other countries) - Japan had got away with clear aggression - Gave hope to Eur’s two other dictators (Mussolini in Italy and Hitler in Germanyt) The box next to the man on the right hand side reads “Facesaving outfit” Source analysis p. 41 in pairs 8 minutes (written) Why did disarmament fail in the 1930s? • The failure of disarmament in 1920s – not too concerning (era of relative peace and stability) • 1930s – more pressure on League to do something about disarmament - Threat of Germany’s resentment of being the only country forced to disarm post-WWI • Many countries were spending more on arms production in 1930s than pre-WWI (remember link to economic recovery post-Depression) Disarmament Conference 1932 • Post-Manchuria: clear urgency to sort out disarmament • Disarmament Conference agreements: - Ban bombing of civilian targets - Limit size of artillery - Limit tonnage of tanks - Ban chemical warfare • BUT no clarity = how it would be enforced - e.g bombing of civilians banned, but production of war planes not - Use of chemical weapons banned – but countries refused to agree not to manufacture chemical weapons German disarmament • Problem = what to do about Germany • Germany had been in League for 6 years - Many countries thought that Germany should be treated more equally • Question: should Germany be allowed to rearm to level of the other powers OR should the other powers disarm to Germany’s level? Chronology: • Germany left Disarmament Conference mid - 1932: in protest • League – Germany should be allowed to rearm (BIG RISK) • Germany returned to conference • Germany started to rearm from 1933 (under Hitler) • Britain proposed a dramatic disarmament plan – rejected by Conference • 1933 Germany left Disarmament Conference and the League • Disarmament Conference failed – 1934 Reasons for failure • Doomed from the start: noone was really committed to disarmament • Divide between Britain and France • British people by 1935 felt that the Treaty of Versailles was unfair - 1935 signed Anglo-German naval agreement (shocked French) - Allowed Germany to build up its navy to 35% size of Britain - Britain did not consult other members of the League • Clearly countries were working in own interests How did Mussolini’s invasion of Abyssinia damage the League? • Final blow to work of the League = Abyssinia • Like Japan = wanted to expand empire; leading power in League • Unlike Manchuria = Abyssinia close to Eur; Br had interests in Africa • Italy had border with France • Br: Abyssinia on border on Anglo (British) – Egyptian border; colonies (Uganda, Kenya, British Somaliland) • League couldn’t argue (unlike Manchuria) that Italy was too far to reach Background • • • 1896: Italy defeated by poorly equipped army (humiliated) Wanted revenge Wanted to acquire wealth, raw materials, fertile lands BUT mainly wanted to show his strength Wanted to ‘restore the glory of the Roman Empire’ 1934 dispute (conflict) bet Italian and Abyssinian troops at border (known as the Wal-Wal incident) - Mussolini saw an opportunity: claimed that it was Italian territory, demanded an apology - Mussolini demanded an apology • Abyssinian emperor (Haile Selassie) appealed to League for help Phase One • Jan 1935-Oct 1935 Mussolini supposedly negotiated with the League • BUT same time was shipping his large army to Abyssinia and gathering support from Italian people (promising a ‘place in the sun’) • Br and Fr didn’t take situation seriously - Needed Mussolini as an ally against Hitler • Signed Stresa Pact with Mussolini early 1935 -statement against German rearmament; agreement to stand vs Germany • Some think = Mussolini thought that by signing Stresa Front- Br and Fr were turning a blind eye to invasion • BUT rise in Br public opposition to Italy’s actions • Vote taken in Britain in ‘34-’35 – majority of public supported military action in Abyssinia • Br politicians promised to ‘get tough’ - BUT they actually never did anything to stop Mussolini • 4 September 1935: League stated that neither side was responsible for Wal-Wal incident • Suggested a plan that would give part of Abyssinia to Mussolini (breaking idea of collective security) - Rejected by Mussolini Phase Two: sanctions/not? • Oct 1935: Mussolini’s army launched full scale invasion of Abyssinia • Abyssinians did not have the force or modern weapons to defeat the Italians (who had tanks, planes, chemical weapons) • League was designed to help smaller countries vs bigger aggressive nations – had obvious opportunity to intervene • Punishment = clear steps (most effective = sanctions) - Committee set up to decide on nature of sanctions • Sanctions = only effective if they are imposed quickly - instead, there were constant delays in process (which gave Mussolini more time to build up raw materials) • • • - League banned loans to Italy Imports from Italy Export of rubber, tin, metals to Italy BUT most effective would have been a ban on oil to Italy League was afraid that US would not support sanctions Worried that members’ economic interests would be damaged Br – worried because sanctions would have resulted in loss of 30,000 coal mining jobs MOST NB: Br and Fr controlled Suez canal was not closed to Mussolini’s supply ships Main route to Abyssinia for Italian supplies Could have ended Italian invasion quickly BUT Br and FR worried that closing canal = war with Italy Hoare-Laval Pact • Secret deal bet Br and Fr foreign ministers (Hoare and Laval) • WHILE sanction discussions were taking place, Hoare and Laval drew up a plan to give 2/3 Abyssinia to Mussolini if he stopped the invasion - This was behind the League’s back • France stated that they would not agree to sanctions in Br rejected plan • BUT details of plan exposed to French media - Disaster for League’s reputation - Slowed down talks about implementing sanctions • Hoare and Laval fired but damage had already been done • Finally in Feb 1936decision made that Italy’s oil reserves would run out in 2 months even if the Americans continued to trade with them BUT it was already too late - Mussolini had taken over most of Abyssinia • Americans blocked a decision to apply sanctions: increased oil exports to Italy Outcomes • Hitler realised that the League were unlikely to intervene in conflicts • While League was concentrating on Abyssinian Crisis, he invaded the Rhineland in Fed 1936 • French were desperate for Italian support vs Hitler – so determined to block any sanctions • By May ‘36 Addis Ababa (capital) captured by Italians - 9 May colonised whole of Italy Implications for the League • Clearly showed inability to protect any nations - Collective security had failed • 1936 Mussolini and Hitler signed agreement: Rome-Berlin Axis • Clearly the League had failed • TURNING POINT for the League • Disaster for the world