Busy time → involved in social + humanitarian work
was able to resolve issues with Prisoners of war from WW1 + address international problems related to slavery, drugs, disease
League ⇒ was always going to be judged primarily on whether or not it could resolve disputes between member nations
⇒ was extremely challenging
Peace treaties ⇒ created a whole new set of states ⇒ meant new borders
→ was difficult to enforce these borders in practical terms
During that period ⇒ it had to deal with over 60 disputes → so much to do that some disputes were handled by conference of ambassadors instead
| Point | Elaboration |
|---|---|
| Corfu, 1923 | Border between Albania and Greece had to be decided. → conference of ambassadors was given this task 3 Italian officers ⇒ killed ⇒ while surveying Greek side of frontier area Italian Leader ⇒ Benito Mussolini ⇒ attacked and occupied Greek island of Corfu Greece ⇒ appealed to league for help ⇒ Mussolini insisted that this dispute should be resolved by conference of ambassadors rather than LON British ⇒ wanted to stand up to Mussolini. However ⇒ French ⇒ involved in dispute with Germany in Ruhr Region over reparations + did not want dispute with Italy as well. In the end ⇒ Mussolini got his way. conference of ambassadors → ruled that Greeks must apologise + pay compensation directly to Italy. Mussolini would not have won if Britain and France both stood against him |
| Greek Bulgarian Border, 1925 | Some Greek soldiers were killed on Greece’s border with Bulgaria When Greek troops invaded ⇒ Bulgaria ⇒ appealed to league for help League ⇒ demanded both sides to stand down - told Greece to withdraw Britain + France ⇒ supported League’s judgement Greece Obeyed → but pointed out that there seemed to be one rule for large states such as Italy and another for smaller states like Greece. → outcome was seen as major success for league + optimism about its effectiveness soared. |
| Vilna, 1920 | Poland ⇒ took control of Vilna Lithuania ⇒ appealed to league However league could not make Poland withdraw Britain + France ⇒ reluctant to act ⇒ Poland was a potential ally against Germany |
| Upper Silesia, 1921 | Dispute between Germany and Poland broke out over Upper Silesia To solve problem ⇒ League oversaw a peaceful vote + divided region between Germany and Poland |
Other Attempts to keep the Peace
| Year | Point |
|---|---|
| 1922 | Rapallo Treaty USSR and Germany ⇒ re established diplomatic relations |
| 1924 | Dawes Plan Represented by US, Britain, Italy, France ⇒ helped Germany’s economy recover from hyperinflation + restructure its reparation payments → ended crisis in Europe by removing French and Italian troops from Ruhr ⇒ so that area could start production to generate revenue US ⇒ also loaned Germany large sums of money to supports its economy. |
| 1925 | Locarno Treaties Sought to maintain peace in Europe among Germany, France, Britain, Italy and Belgium Germany ⇒ accepted its western Border as set out in TOV → decision reassured France + paved the way for Germany to join LON However ⇒ nation was decided about Germany’s eastern Borders with Poland and Czechoslovakia. > these states remained nervous about Germany |
| 1928 | Kellogg-Briand Pact → was an agreement between 65 nations ⇒ not to use force to settle disputes. |
| 1928 | Young Plan → intended by former wartime allies ⇒ to support Germany’s economy + ensure Germany could pay reparations plan → sought to reduce reparation amount + extend repayment period |