League of Nations: Rise, Challenges, and Path to WWII
Society of Nations (SDN)
Following World War I, the Allied Powers sought to reform international relations. President Wilson’s 14 Points proposed an international body to govern these relations, leading to the creation of the League of Nations in January 1920, based in Switzerland. Its objectives were:
- To promote peace among nations.
- To create organizations fostering development and universal justice.
Its main institutions were:
- Secretary General (coordinator)
- General Assembly (democratic representation of countries)
- Security Council (formed by major powers)
- International Tribunal in The Hague
The League developed programs for economic and humanistic cooperation, but faced challenges due to mistrust between powers and the absence of the United States. The League’s history can be divided into two stages:
- 1924-1929: Germany’s entry and pacts between powers fostered optimism for peace.
- 1929-1939: The League’s limitations were exposed by Japan and Germany’s foreign policies and the lack of solidarity during the 1929 crisis.
The Era of Détente (1924-1929)
This period saw improved international harmony due to:
- Improved financial situations
- USA’s reduced isolationism
- Support for peace ideologies
- US loans and the Dawes Plan (1924) aiding Germany’s debt repayment, softening France’s stance.
This led to the Locarno Treaty (1925), where major powers renounced war and Germany recognized parts of the Treaty of Versailles, allowing its entry into the SDN. In 1928, the Kellogg-Briand Pact, outlawing war, was signed by fifteen countries and ratified by sixty others.
The Road to War
The 1930s were marked by economic crisis and the rise of totalitarianism. Japan’s invasion of Manchuria (1933) highlighted the League’s ineffectiveness, as did the failure of the disarmament conference. Countries began to form alliances, leading to a reset of international relations.
The Turn Toward War
French Shift: After the 1917 revolution, the traditional alliance between France and Russia was broken. However, Hitler’s rise in 1933 brought them closer, leading to the Franco-Soviet Pact in 1935 and the Stresa Front with Britain.
British Shift: Britain opposed Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia and supported League sanctions, causing a rift and pushing Italy closer to Germany.
Italian/German Shift: Italy initially opposed Hitler’s claims on Austria but later supported him, condemning League sanctions and forming the Axis with Germany and Japan in 1936.
German Shift: Germany broke with Britain and sought Soviet support for revising its eastern borders, leading to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact in 1939, dividing Poland.
On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, prompting Britain to declare war.
Locarno Treaty Analysis (October 1925)
Authors: Germany, Belgium, France, Great Britain, and Italy.
Analysis:
The treaty has two parts. The first part outlines the main ideas and objectives:
- Germany recognizes its western borders as defined by the Treaty of Versailles and maintains a demilitarized zone.
- Signatories renounce war except in self-defense or violation of the Versailles Treaty.
- Disputes will be arbitrated by the SDN.
Critique: The text is authentic and significant.