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Could you do better than the League of Nations?

The Aaland Islands (1921)

These islands between Sweden and Finland were claimed by both nations and were ready to fight over them. They invited the League to make a judgement.

Decision 1

• Do you…

1. Award the islands to Sweden

2. Award the islands to Finland

3. Make them neutral

Verdict 1

• The islands were awarded to Finland and Sweden accepted this.

• A satisfactory outcome – The nations were willing to accept the League’s authority.

Vilna (1920)

The area was claimed by Lithuania and Poland. It was included in the new state of Lithuania, but had the majority of Polish population. In 1920, during a Russo-Polish war, Vilna was occupied by Polish forces.

Decision 2

• Do you…

1. Take action against Poland

2. Negotiate a deal between the two nations

3. Ignore the situation

Verdict 2

• The League tried to negotiate a deal, but in 1923 they confirmed Poland’s occupation.

• Sporadic fighting continued until 1927

• A terrible outcome – League members were not willing to supply armed forces. Britain and France also saw it as a barrier between Germany and Russia.

Upper Silesia (1921)

The people who lived in this area voted on which country should rule them. Upper Silesia contained a mixture of Poles and Germans. The area contained good industry and was sought after by both. In the plebiscite the people voted in favour of Germany.

Decision 3

• Do you…

1. Accept the Plebiscite

2. Award the land to Poland

3. Share the land between the two nations

Verdict 3

• The League decided to partition the country. The Germans received over half the land and population, while the Polish received the industry.

• A messy compromise – It was accepted, but bitterly in Germany. Whatever was decided would have displeased either country

Austria and Hungary (1922-3)

Austria and Hungary faced bankruptcy. Burdened with reparations and a failing economy after WW1 meant that collapse was imminent.

Decision 4

• Do you…

1. Allow both countries to become ruined

2. Provide them with a relaxation in reparation payments to recover

3. Arrange loans and supervise how the money is spent yourself.

Verdict 4

• The League took over the economic management of both countries by supervising the loans.

• Prompt and effective – Both countries were able to begin economic recovery

Corfu (1923)

In August 1923 five Italian surveyors, who were working for the League in mapping the Greek-Albanian border were shot and killed on the Greek side of the border. Mussolini demanded compensation. When this did not arrive he bombarded and occupied Corfu. This was in defiance of the League’s Covenant.

Decision 5

• Do you…

1. Condemn Italy and advise the Greeks to begin negotiations

2. Tell the Italians to withdraw and demand they negotiate with the Greeks

3. Put pressure on the Greeks to accept Mussolini’s demands

Verdict 5

• They sided with Italy and stated that only when the Greeks had apologised and paid up would Italy withdraw from Corfu.

• A disaster – The League backed down when pressured by a great power

Greek-Bulgarian Dispute (1925)

After the Treaty of Neuilly, the border between Greece and Bulgaria remained a source of dispute. After a few violent incidents the Greeks invaded Bulgaria in Oct 1925.

Decision 6

• Do you…

1. Put pressure on the Greeks to withdraw

2. Sue for the two countries to negotiate

3. Instruct the Bulgarians to accept the Greek action

Verdict 6

• They pressurised the Greeks to withdraw and they did.

• Successful action – It was exactly what the League was for. Cynics suggested they were only willing to get involved when great nations were not involved.