The League in the 1920s Flashcards
All 19 cards in this deck
What was the Covenant of the League of Nations?
The set of rules and aims all members promised to obey, including collective security — acting together against any country that attacked another.
Why did the USA not join the League of Nations?
President Wilson created the idea, but the US Senate voted against joining because it did not want to send more soldiers to future disputes in Europe.
How often did the League's Assembly meet, and how did it vote?
Once a year, and decisions needed a unanimous vote of all members, which made them slow.
True or false? The League of Nations had its own army to enforce its decisions.
False. It had no army of its own; it could only use moral condemnation and economic sanctions, or ask members to provide forces.
True or false? Because the USA was not a member, a country facing League economic sanctions could still trade with America.
True. This undermined the League's power to punish an aggressive nation by sanctions.
What did the League's International Labour Organisation (ILO) do?
Worked to improve working conditions, for example campaigning against child labour and for shorter working hours, though many members ignored its recommendations.
What did the League's Health Committee do?
Worked to stop the spread of diseases such as malaria, collecting information and running campaigns.
What did the League's Commission for Refugees do?
Helped refugees and prisoners of war return to their homes after the First World War.
What happened in the Aaland Islands dispute (1921)?
Sweden and Finland both claimed the islands; the League found a compromise both accepted (the islands went to Finland), avoiding war — a clear success.
What happened in the Upper Silesia dispute (1921)?
After a plebiscite, the League divided the industrial region between Germany and Poland; both sides accepted the decision.
What happened in the Vilna dispute (1920)?
Poland seized Vilna from Lithuania; the League ordered Poland to leave, Poland refused, and no action was taken — a failure.
What happened in the Corfu incident (1923)?
Mussolini occupied Corfu after an Italian general was murdered in Greece; Greece appealed to the League, but the Conference of Ambassadors made Greece apologise and pay compensation to Italy.
What happened in the Bulgaria dispute (1925)?
Greek troops invaded Bulgaria; the League ordered Greece to withdraw and pay compensation, and Greece obeyed — though Greece complained it was treated more harshly than Italy had been over Corfu.
What were the League of Nations' two main aims?
To prevent future wars by settling disputes peacefully and acting together against aggressors, and to get nations working together on international problems such as health, refugees and working conditions.
What was the League's Council?
A smaller body meeting several times a year to settle disputes. Its permanent members were Britain, France, Italy and Japan, joined by Germany (1926) and the USSR (1934); its decisions had to be unanimous, so any member could block them.
What was the Permanent Court of International Justice?
The League's court of judges at The Hague, which ruled on legal disputes between countries but could not force them to obey.
Which three great powers were not members of the League when it began in 1920?
The USA, Germany and the USSR (Soviet Russia).
What did the League's Slavery Commission do?
Worked to end slavery worldwide; its work led to the 1926 Slavery Convention, in which member countries agreed to abolish slavery and the slave trade.
How did the League respond when France and Belgium occupied the Ruhr in 1923?
It did not intervene, partly because France was a leading Council member; the crisis was eased instead by the US-backed Dawes Plan (1924).