A comprehensive revision of Chapter 5 - International Relations, Subchapter 5.3 Successes and Failures of the League of Nations.

1. CAMBRIDGEAS
HISTORYREVISION
INTERNATIONALRELATIONS
5.3 SUCCESSESAND
FAILURESOFTHELON

2. SUCCESSES
Teschen 1920: arbitration of dispute between Poland and
Czechoslovakia.
Aaland Islands 1921: arbitration between Sweden and Finland.
Upper Silesia 1921: arbitration between Germany and Poland.
Border dispute 1921: arbitration between Yugoslavia and Albania.
Memel 1923: compromise solution; prevented bloodshed, but enabled
Lithuania to gain land by force.
Mosul 1924: arbitration between Turkey and Iraq.
Border dispute 1925: Greece forced to withdraw from Bulgaria.

3. SUCCESSES
Leticia 1933–34: arbitration between Colombia and Peru.
International Labour Organisation: improved international working
conditions – e.g. maximum working hours, minimum wages.
Commission for Refugees: resettled former prisoners of war; Nansen
Passport; helped to find homes, food and jobs for refugees.
Health Organisation: dealt with specific problems; investigated causes
of/preventions for epidemics.
Mandates Commission: supervised areas taken from Germany and
Turkey.
Financial assistance: helped countries facing financial problems
(Austria and Hungary).
Other achievements: tackled exploitation of women and children; drug
trafficking; slavery.

4. FAILURES
Vilna 1920: Poland refused to withdraw from Vilna (Lithuania); Britain
and France supported Poland’s claim.
Treaty of Riga 1921: Polish invasion forced Russia to concede land;
League took no action (Russia not a member of League; Britain and
France feared communism).
Invasion of the Ruhr 1923: France and Belgium invaded the Ruhr;
League took no action (France and Belgium were both members of the
Council).
Corfu Incident 1923: Italy invaded Greek island of Corfu; Mussolini
refused to accept the League’s authority.

5. FAILURES
Manchuria 1931: Japan invaded Manchuria; League ordered Japan to
withdraw; Japan refused; League took no action (Britain and France did
not want to go to war over this issue).
Abyssinia 1935: Italy invaded Abyssinia; League did little (Britain and
France wanted Italy as an ally against Germany).
Spanish Civil War 1936–39: League refused to get involved in an
internal Spanish issue; did nothing to prevent involvement of Germany,
Italy and USSR.
Japanese invasion of China 1937: League refused China’s request for
assistance.

6. REASONSFORTHELEAGUESWEAKNESSES
Association with the Paris peace settlement: seen as an organisation of the
victorious countries in the First World War.
Absence of major countries: USA refused to join; USSR and Germany
forbidden entry.
Undermined by other bodies: e.g. Council of Ambassadors; treaties made
without League’s involvement (e.g. Locarno 1925).
Veto: member countries could veto action by the League when their own
interests were at stake.
Great Depression: led to extreme nationalism in Italy, Germany and Japan;
prevented Britain and France from taking action against them.
No army: League lacked its own armed forces.
Collective security: relied on support from member states.
National self-interest: national self-interest put ahead of international
responsibilities.