Manchuria & Abyssinia: Manchuria & Abyssinia: Where it all went wrong Where it all went wrong for the league of nationsfor the league of nations

The league so far…The league so far… Had been set up due to the Treaty of Had been set up due to the Treaty of

VersaillesVersailles Was meant to keep world peace, help out Was meant to keep world peace, help out

countries by solving disputes peaceably and countries by solving disputes peaceably and helping them economically too, and ensure helping them economically too, and ensure the terms of the treaty were kept to.the terms of the treaty were kept to.

Had mixed success in the 1920s:Had mixed success in the 1920s: SuccessesSuccesses included the aaland islands (1921), included the aaland islands (1921),

upper silesia (1921), the economical crisis of upper silesia (1921), the economical crisis of austria & hungary (1923) and the greek-bulgarian austria & hungary (1923) and the greek-bulgarian incident (1925), plus humanitarian aid workincident (1925), plus humanitarian aid work

FailuresFailures included Vilna (1920) and corfu (1923), included Vilna (1920) and corfu (1923), plus the signing of various treaties without its plus the signing of various treaties without its consent.consent.

Manchuria, 1931-3Manchuria, 1931-3 Manchuria seen as part of China, but Japan owned the Manchuria seen as part of China, but Japan owned the

South Manchurian railway.South Manchurian railway. Manchuria was an area rich Manchuria was an area rich in resourcesin resources and coveted by both nations. and coveted by both nations.

In In 19311931 officers of the officers of the Kwantung Army of JapanKwantung Army of Japan staged an staged an explosion on the railway line, near Mukden. This became explosion on the railway line, near Mukden. This became known as the known as the Mukden incidentMukden incident..

Japan blamed China, and invadedJapan blamed China, and invaded The league issued an investigation, and in The league issued an investigation, and in 1932 the Lytton 1932 the Lytton

Commission condemned JapanCommission condemned Japan However some members of the league sympathised with However some members of the league sympathised with

Japan’s efforts to restore order on the regionJapan’s efforts to restore order on the region After the league decided Japan was wrong, Japan left After the league decided Japan was wrong, Japan left

the leaguethe league Due to the distance, it was very difficult to impose any kind Due to the distance, it was very difficult to impose any kind

of sanctionsof sanctions Japan went on to take over other areas of ChinaJapan went on to take over other areas of China

Abyssinia, 1935Abyssinia, 1935

Italy, after seeing the success of Japan in the Italy, after seeing the success of Japan in the Manchurian crisis, decided to invade AbyssiniaManchurian crisis, decided to invade Abyssinia

They had two main motivations: 1) To seek They had two main motivations: 1) To seek revenge for defeat in a previous war 2) To gain revenge for defeat in a previous war 2) To gain more colonies in Africa- most other nations had more colonies in Africa- most other nations had colonies there, why shouldn’t they? It was located colonies there, why shouldn’t they? It was located next to existing Italian colonies and would be an next to existing Italian colonies and would be an easy target.easy target.

Both Italy & Abyssinia were members of the leagueBoth Italy & Abyssinia were members of the league France and Britain would have to stand strong in France and Britain would have to stand strong in

order to make Italy back down, but were reluctant order to make Italy back down, but were reluctant as they saw Mussolini as a strong potential ally as they saw Mussolini as a strong potential ally against Germanyagainst Germany

Abyssinia, continued…Abyssinia, continued… Laval (French foreign minister) and Mussolini Laval (French foreign minister) and Mussolini

met in Rome. They made secret agreements- met in Rome. They made secret agreements- Laval tried to win Mussolini’s friendship, but Laval tried to win Mussolini’s friendship, but Mussolini interpreted this as an offer to do Mussolini interpreted this as an offer to do what he liked in Abyssinia. Hoare (GB foreign what he liked in Abyssinia. Hoare (GB foreign secretary) tried to warn Italy off invading secretary) tried to warn Italy off invading Abyssinia.Abyssinia.

Italy invaded 3Italy invaded 3rdrd October 1935, and met no October 1935, and met no real competition from the poor Abyssinian real competition from the poor Abyssinian forces.forces.

League condemned Italy and imposed League condemned Italy and imposed sanctions, but did not close the Suez Canal, sanctions, but did not close the Suez Canal, allowing supplies to still reach the Italian armyallowing supplies to still reach the Italian army

The Hoare-Laval PlanThe Hoare-Laval Plan

Agreed Abyssinia would be split up, with Agreed Abyssinia would be split up, with Italy gaining fertile lands.Italy gaining fertile lands.

Abyssinia woul dbe much smaller, and Abyssinia woul dbe much smaller, and consist of barren lands, plus the “corridor consist of barren lands, plus the “corridor for camels”for camels”

Details of the plan were leaked, and Hoare Details of the plan were leaked, and Hoare & Laval had to resign& Laval had to resign

But damage had been done- everyone knew But damage had been done- everyone knew GB & FR had been working to undermine GB & FR had been working to undermine the league’s apparently tough stancethe league’s apparently tough stance

Abyssinia… how it ended…Abyssinia… how it ended…

The league was powerless when its The league was powerless when its most important members were not most important members were not committedcommitted

The Italians reached the capital of The Italians reached the capital of Abyssinia uncheckedAbyssinia unchecked

The Abyssinian emperor fled and The Abyssinian emperor fled and made a speech at the Assembly of the made a speech at the Assembly of the League of Nations, condemning how it League of Nations, condemning how it had acted and summarizing the warhad acted and summarizing the war

Why these events signalled the Why these events signalled the end for the league…end for the league…

Manchuria showed weaknessManchuria showed weakness, but because of , but because of the distance it was easy for people to believe if the distance it was easy for people to believe if such a problem came up closer to home, it would such a problem came up closer to home, it would be dealt with effectivelybe dealt with effectively

However, However, Abyssinia showed the league’s Abyssinia showed the league’s weakness even when the event was close at weakness even when the event was close at hand/localhand/local

It demonstrated how It demonstrated how uncommitted the leading uncommitted the leading members were-members were- how they went behind the how they went behind the league’s back if they had some other agenda to league’s back if they had some other agenda to fulfil, and did not take it seriouslyfulfil, and did not take it seriously

Therefore Therefore from then on no-one took the from then on no-one took the league seriouslyleague seriously, and it lost all authority., and it lost all authority.

Consequences of the league’s Consequences of the league’s failuresfailures

The victims of aggression were left The victims of aggression were left defencelessdefenceless against powerful enemies like against powerful enemies like Italy- no securityItaly- no security

The aggressors were effectively encouragedThe aggressors were effectively encouraged and realised they could get away with quite and realised they could get away with quite allotallot

Britain and France had to face up to the fact Britain and France had to face up to the fact that that war was a very real possibilitywar was a very real possibility, and find , and find new ways to deal with international aggressionnew ways to deal with international aggression

The league of nation’s credibility was The league of nation’s credibility was completely destroyedcompletely destroyed, and the idea that , and the idea that countries could stand together firmly to aid countries could stand together firmly to aid collective security was proved wrongcollective security was proved wrong