League of Nations: Why It Failed to Keep Peace
The League of Nations was an international organization established in 1919 to maintain world peace. It was envisioned that all countries would become members, and any disputes between them could be settled through negotiation rather than force. If negotiations failed, member states would cease trade with the aggressor, and as a last resort, they would use their armies to intervene.
In theory, the League of Nations was a sound concept and even enjoyed some initial successes. However, it ultimately failed in its primary mission.
The Great Depression’s Impact on International Relations
The late 1920s saw the world plunged into a severe economic depression. A depression is characterized by a decline in a nation’s economy, reduced trade, loss of business income, falling prices, and rising unemployment.
The Manchurian Crisis: A Test of the League’s Resolve
In 1931, Japan, severely impacted by the depression, saw its populace lose faith in the government and turn to the military for solutions. The Japanese army invaded Manchuria, a Chinese region rich in minerals and resources. China appealed to the League for assistance. The League instructed the Japanese government to order the army to withdraw from Manchuria immediately. However, the army ignored the government and continued its conquest.
The League then urged member states to cease trade with Japan. However, due to the ongoing depression, many countries were unwilling to risk losing trade and did not comply. Subsequently, the League demanded Japan’s withdrawal from Manchuria, but Japan responded by leaving the League of Nations.
The Abyssinian Crisis: Another Blow to the League
In October 1935, Italy invaded Abyssinia. The Abyssinians, lacking the military strength to resist Italy, appealed to the League of Nations for help.
The League condemned the attack and called on member states to impose trade restrictions on Italy. However, these restrictions were largely ineffective, as Italy could still trade with non-member states, particularly the United States. Moreover, Britain and France were hesitant to risk provoking Italy into aggression against them.
In an attempt to halt Italy’s aggression, the leaders of Britain and France proposed a plan where Italy would receive two areas of land in Abyssinia, provided there were no further attacks. Although Mussolini initially accepted the plan, a public outcry in Britain led to its abandonment.
Key Reasons for the League of Nations’ Failure
The main reasons for the League of Nations’ failure can be summarized as follows:
- Not all countries joined the League. Although the idea for the League originated with Woodrow Wilson, a change of government in the United States before the treaty’s signing led the new Republican administration to refuse membership. Germany was initially barred from joining as punishment for initiating World War I, and Russia was excluded due to growing fears of Communism. Other countries chose not to join, while some joined but later withdrew.
- The League lacked enforcement power. The League’s primary weapon was to request member countries to halt trade with an aggressor. However, this proved ineffective as countries could still trade with non-members. During the global depression of the late 1920s, nations were reluctant to sacrifice trade partners.
- The League had no army. Member countries were supposed to supply soldiers. However, they were hesitant to become involved, fearing they might provoke an aggressor into taking direct action against them, and thus failed to provide troops.
- Inability to act swiftly. The Council of the League of Nations met only four times a year, and decisions required unanimous agreement. When countries requested intervention, the League had to convene emergency meetings, hold discussions, and secure the consent of all members. This process hindered the League’s ability to respond promptly to acts of aggression.