Problems with the leauge

Question	Answer
Why was the league of nations created?	It was designed to bring nations together in collective security, but it was determined by national interests and key weaknesses.
1) No USA (membership)	The most powerful and richest country in the world wasn't a member.
2) Exclusion of defeated (membership)	Defeated countries were not invited to join the league so saw the league as connected to the hated peace treaties
3) Sanctions	These were difficult to inforce, so countries could not be made to accept the leagues decisions.
4) Dominated by Britain & France	The 2 most powerful members were both reluctant to risk another war by upsetting allies or aggressive countries.
5) Organisation	Every nation having a vote and all decisions having to be unanimous made it hard to get decisions made quickly.
6) Lack of real power	The league did not have an army to make sure its decisions were obeyed.
Consequences~ Poland invading Lithuania	Poland occupied Vilna in 1920, Poland kept Vilna because Britian and France wanted Poland as an ally against Russia.
Consequences~ The league was more even-handed at other times	One example; the treatment of the Aarland Islands dispute between Finland and Sweden in 1921. The AI sought to become become part of Sweden, which Finland resisted, and so the league mediated, directing that the islands should be self-governing but should remain part of Finland.

Resource summary

	Created by buckley_shannon about 10 years ago