How successful was the League of Nations by 1929.

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How successful was the League of Nations by 1929

By 1929, the League was not in clear success or failure. At sometimes the league looked like it was the answer to all world problems and at other times it looked like “a victor’s club”.

The league passed through many situations which shaped its success and failures:

  • The Economic recovery of countries had reduced international tension so countries were less likely to fight.
  • However, the Wall Street crash and economic problems ended this and tension rose again.
  • Britain had a High unemployment rate and so didn't want to sort out other problems when it had enough at home.
  • Germany's Unemployment and poverty also was a problem and later led on to Nazis being elected.
  • USA was unwilling to support sanctions when its own trade is a mess.
  • Japan’s Depression leads it to take over Manchuria (part of China).

In view of the League’s desire to end war, the only criteria that can be used to classify a success, was whether war was avoided and a peaceful settlement formulated after a crisis between two nations.

The League experienced success in:

Upper Silesia (1921)

The Treaty of Versailles had given the people of Upper Silesia the right to have a referendum on whether they wanted to be part of Germany or part of Poland. In this referendum, 700,000 voted for Germany and 500,000 for Poland. This close result resulted in rioting between those who expected Silesia to be made part of Germany and those who wanted to be part of Poland. The League was asked to settle this dispute. After a six-week inquiry, the League decided to split Upper Silesia between Germany and Poland. The League’s decision was accepted y both countries and by the people in Upper Silesia.

The Aaland Islands (1921)

These islands are near enough equal distant between Finland and Sweden. They had traditionally belonged to Finland but most of the islanders wanted to be governed by Sweden. Neither Sweden nor Finland could come to a decision as to who owned the islands and in 1921 they asked the League to adjudicate. The League’s decision was that they should remain with Finland but that no weapons should ever be kept there. Both countries accepted the decision and it remains in force to this day.

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3. M    

The Turks demanded Mosul, a part of Iraq (a British mandate). The League supported Iraq; Turkey agreed.   

Greece and Bulgaria (1925)

Both these nations have a common border. In 1925, sentries patrolling this

Border fired on one another and a Greek soldier was killed. The Greek

Army invaded Bulgaria as a result. The Bulgarians asked the League for

Help and the League ordered both armies to stop fighting and that the

Greeks should pull out of Bulgaria. The League then sent experts to the

Area and decided that Greece was to blame and fined her ...

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