Failures Of The League Of The Nations

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

The League of Nations has undergone much criticism in regards to its successes and failures. Some say that the League proved to be quite efficient and competent in carrying out it’s peacekeeping duties in Europe after WWI, whilst others call upon its flawed dependability in relation to its failed attempts to resolve significant international crises involving European nations and their imperialistic conquests. Two noteworthy examples that demonstrate this failure are the Abyssinian and the Manchurian Crisis. From analyzing Source E (from a collection of sources written after the event), written by the Historian AP Adamthwaite (1977), we can definitely visualize the League of Nations’s weaknesses. [1] Described as powerless and insecure, the League was not able to cope with the amounting tensions and stress that came with the crisis. [2] Also, as it was already weakened by the departure of both Japan and Germany from the League in 1933, it was unable to carry out its dutiful actions in an efficient matter. Taking advantage of this permeable passage, Hitler made his first "territorial move" and sent 22,000 men into the then demilitarized Rhineland. [3] 

Because the League posed no real threat or possessed any real dominance in the battle for world peace, it was ultimately ignored by most aggressors and characterized as a failure. This failure can be further evaluated through the League’s results in attempt to deal with the Invasion of Manchuria. [4] As arbitration was the League’s initial strategy for peace-keeping, it was deemed ineffective; instead of acting on the dot, the League took up a painstakingly slow procedure of hearings and evaluations, in that time, the Japanese had already attacked and taken over Manchuria. [5] The League of Nations was wholly hopeless in time management and decision-making, it was simply unable to react to brewing crises in a timely manner, whether it was a major event such as the Abyssinian Crisis or a small-scale dispute such as the partition of Upper Silesia.

Successes of the League of the Nations

In addition to failures, successes were also put forth by the League of Nations, though they were not as amounting, they still accounted for a percentage of the overall viewpoint that criticizers and evaluators of the League had to consider when coming to a consensus. As to what occurred in the Saar Valley, the League of Nations was able to prove its dominance and effectiveness, that is, they were able to instill their rigid viewpoint onto German and French sovereignty [6] . As a result of this intimidation and enforcement, which included an international police force, they were able to diplomatically carry out their task in an effective manner. [7] Another prominent event that deemed to be successful for the League of Nations had to do with their enforcement in relation to former German colonies. [8] As like before, they were able to march into these lands with an iron fist, thereby, diplomatically dictating the rules, which forced the Germans to abide. [9] Ultimately, these small milestone victories heightened their growing reputation, but these feats only lasted for a short while, as the League proved its ineffectiveness when having to deal with large-scale conflicts, often involving the imperialistic desires and colonies of other western European powers.

Conclusion

Overall, though the League of Nations was proven to be successful in certain areas, the successes were not enough to justify the creation of the League of Nations. Having been humiliated by defeats at two fronts, both in Africa and in Japan, by the Abyssinian and Manchurian Crises, there was no hope left for the League to ever regain its quivering reputation. Dismissed by many former members, the League had nowhere to turn to except to as a placeholder in history, depicted as an inept object in a time of instability.

Successes of the League of Nations

For example, the League of Nations proved to be successful in solving peacefully the conflict of the Saar Valley. Here, France demanded that according to the Versailles Peace Treaty, the Saar population should be determined by vote as to whether it should be under German or French rule or whether international groups should govern it. [i] 

Ultimately, the plebiscite was carried through with the help of an international police force. [ii] 

The League was also called upon to take action against the suppression of white slave traffic, the fight against opium usage, refugees, and the exchange of populations between Greece, Turkey, and Bulgaria. The League has been successful in bringing about the conclusion of more than 10 multi-lateral conventions in these fields. [iii] 

Failures of the League of Nations

However, there were failures of the League in relation to the failure to settle the disputes in Manchuria in 1931 in this dispute, the immediate interests of the parties were utterly opposed. [iv] 

Another service to peace that was administered by the League of Nations was the solution to the partition of Upper Silesia led to open hostilities between Poland and Germany as well as problems between the Allies. [v] 

As an effect, the council carried out the partition of the disputed territory with hope of another plebiscite, and attempted at permanent peace in that part of Europe, through a special convention. [vi] 

Successes not related to territorial changes due to WW1

A major indication of this success is the conflict that arose between Greece and Italy in August 1923 following the assassination of the Italian members of an Inter-Allied Boundary Commission on Greek territory. [vii] 

Italy sent a strongly worded message to the Greek Government demanding instant satisfaction but the Greek Government refused all responsibility for the incident and rejected some of the Italian demands. [viii] 

As a result, Italy resulted to military operations and occupied the island of Corfu. [ix] 

The conflict escalated and led to the League of Ambassadors and in the end, it was settled by the League of Ambassadors.

The League of Nations: The Growth of a system

By December 1920, 48 states had signed the League Covenant, pledging to work together to eliminate aggression between countries. [x] 

A series of disputes between Germany and Poland over Upper Silesia, between Italy and Greece, and between Greece and Bulgaria were resolved under its careful examination. [xi] 

Another crucial function to the successes of the League was the establishment of Mandates to bring all territories that were liberated from German and Turkish rule, at the end of the Great War, to self-determination

However, there were "weak links spread across everywhere" as mentioned by Lloyd George, the British prime minister at the time. [xii]