The League of Nations in Action - successes and failures.

The League of Nations in Action

1. Teschen 1919

What happened? Teschen was a small town between Poland and Czechoslovakia. Its main importance was that it had valuable coal mines there which both the Poles and the Czechs wanted. As both were newly created nations, both wanted to make their respective economies as strong as possible and the acquisition of rich coal mines would certainly help in this respect.

In January 1919, Polish and Czech troops fought in the streets of Teschen. Many died. The League was called on to help and decided that the bulk of the town should go to Poland while Czechoslovakia should have one of Teschen’s suburbs. This suburb contained the most valuable coal mines and the Poles refused to accept this decision. Though no more wholesale violence took place, the two countries continued to argue over the issue for the next twenty years.

Success or failure? _Failure

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2. Vilna 1920

What happened? This area was claimed by both Lithuania and Poland. It was included in the new state of Lithuania set up at the end of the war but it had a majority Polish population. Taking action against Poland would have required armed forces, but League members were not was not willing to supply them.

Success or failure? Failure

3. Upper Silesia 1921

What happened? Upper Silesia was one of several Plebiscite areas defined in the Treaty of Versailles. The people who lived in these ...