How important was the lack of military strength the reason behind the eventual failure of the LON?
EYA.
The lack of military strength played an important part in the league of nations eventual failure,
however, it was not the most important factor in the League of Nations eventual downfall. It was
the fact that it was undermined by its own members that was most significant to the League of
Nations failure. The League of Nations members could manipulate it in such a way that their own
countries' interests were fulfilled at the expense of collective security. With its own members doing as
they pleased and undermining the League of Nations aim, the League of Nations credibility and
reputation took a heavy blow. It caused distrust amongst members of other countries and led to some
disputes between countries leading to war. Another blow to the League of Nations, was the lack of
involvement from America, despite the fact that it was Woodrow Wilson, the then president of the
United States who came up with the idea of the League of Nations. Without the support from America,
who at that point was emerging as one of the world's leading countries, the League of Nations
credibility and reputation was also undermined.
The League of Nations lack of military strength gave rise to its dependence on its member
countries and led to the fact that it did not have any independence and could not rely on itself to
intervene and stop political and international disputes between countries. Hence making it vulnerable
and practically useless if its members decided not to lend their military forces to the League of
Nations. It was also made vulnerable if its members were unable and unwilling to lend their strength in
times of crisis and such. This contributed greatly to the eventual failure of the League of Nations, as
they proved to be ineffective, such as during 1920 to 1922, when there was an outbreak of war
between Greece and Turkey, which they could not prevent as they were probably lacking in military
strength and thus it could not stop the war from breaking out.1 The League of Nations only had the
moral authority to influence the decisions of countries, thus all in all, this “moral authority” did nothing
to help solve its issues. Furthermore, since the League of Nations was spearheaded by Britain and
France, whose military capacities had been severely impaired by the waging of WWI, and were thus in
no position to commit their troops to implementing the authority of the League of Nations.
Thus, the League of Nations had no military power of its own and was not seen as a force to be
reckoned with, leading the weaker countries to lose confidence in the it, and the stronger countries to
think that they were pushovers. This did nothing to foster trust between countries within the League of
Nations. This affected its reputation and credibility adversely, which led to countries finding alternatives
to solve their conflicts, thus contributing to its eventual failure.
Another factor contributing to the League of Nations failure, was the lack of support from
America.2 It was Woodrow Wilson , the then president of America, who came up with the idea of the
League of nations, however, due to the American public favoring the policy of isolationism, America
rejected the idea for the League of Nations.3 Without the support of one of the world's emerging
leaders, America, the League of Nations credibility and reputation was severely affected. Moreover,
there were many instances when America intervened in international relations while bypassing the
authority League of Nations. For example, in 1920 to 1921, they held the Washington Naval
Conference,and another example would be the Dawes plan, and later, the Young plan which replaced
it in 1929.4 They were both made to collect reparations from Germany after the World War I.5 These
Arasumani, R.; Yeo, L. (2007). Crisis and Conflict (3rd edition). Singapore: Marshall Cavendish International. p. 41
Arasumani, R.; Yeo, L. (2007). Crisis and Conflict (3rd edition). Singapore: Marshall Cavendish International. pp. 42, 43.
Arasumani, R.; Yeo, L. (2007). Crisis and Conflict (3rd edition). Singapore: Marshall Cavendish International. p. 43
Arasumani, R.; Yeo, L. (2007). Crisis and Conflict (3rd edition). Singapore: Marshall Cavendish International. p. 44, p.47
and Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Plan, (accessed 29th June 2009)
5 Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Plan, (accessed 29th June 2009) and Wikipedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawes_Plan, (accessed 29th June 2009)
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actions came into direct conflict with the League of Nations aims of becoming a World Parliament
where most, if not all countries came to to solve their problems and conflicts diplomatically.6 7And
together with America's influence, it further degraded the League of Nations, making it seem
redundant. Thus, America first undermined the League of Nations by refusing to join it, and
subsequently undermined its authority further by intervening in international relations despite its
isolationist stance.
Thus, its lacking of America's strength and influence to carry it forth, made it seem unimportant and
did nothing for it's reputation.8
Coupled with the lack of military strength which America could have provided as it was relatively
unaffected by WWI, countries did not feel that the League of Nations as a force to be reckoned with.
Causing the stronger countries to believe that they would be able to get away with almost anything.
This causes the League of Nations credibility and effectiveness to be undermined as America sought
to conduct international relations outside the League of Nations. Causing countries to look for other
methods to resolve their conflicts instead of turning to it, undermining its main aim of becoming “a
world parliament”9, contributing to its failure.
However, the most important factor that contributed to the League of Nations failure, was that
the League of Nations was undermined by its own members, especially its core members. The
League of Nations own core members did not work towards its aim,but instead, manipulated it so that
they could fulfill their own countries' interests. This tainted its reputation as an impartial organization.
One of the examples of the members using it to their advantage was, in 1920, Poland seized Vilna,
and the League of nations did nothing to prevent it. 10
Another was the Corfu incident, in 1923. Italy invaded Greece and then went against the League of
Nations initial verdict, that Greece should pay compensation to Italy which would be held by the
League of Nations until the dispute was resolved, and worked behind it to make Greece pay
compensation directly to Italy. 11 12
Also in 1923, when Germany stopped paying its reparations to the allies, France invaded and
occupied the German industrial area of Ruhr. During this time, the League of Nations did nothing to
help resolve the dispute. 13
Some other important examples include the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931, in which the
League of Nations economic sanctions did not work and military force was the next option. However,
the League of Nations had to depend on its members to provide soldiers, of which, many could not,
and its core members, France and Britain, were reluctant to lend their strength as they were drained
after World War I. 14
This event set a dangerous precedent for Italy and Germany to follow. Inevitably, in 1935, the Italian
invasion of Abyssinia took place, as Britain and Franc were unwilling to stand up to Italy for fear that it
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John and Claire, http://www.johndclare.net/EL1.htm, (accessed 28th June)
Arasumani, R.; Yeo, L. (2007). Crisis and Conflict (3rd edition). Singapore: Marshall Cavendish International. p. 41
Arasumani, R.; Yeo, L. (2007). Crisis and Conflict (3rd edition). Singapore: Marshall Cavendish International. p. 43
Slide Share “History of League of Nations” , http://www.slideshare.net/DSS35034243/history-league-of-nations,
(accessed 29th June 2009)
Arasumani, R.; Yeo, L. (2007). Crisis and Conflict (3rd edition). Singapore: Marshall Cavendish International. p. 41
Arasumani, R.; Yeo, L. (2007). Crisis and Conflict (3rd edition). Singapore: Marshall Cavendish International. p. 41
Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corfu_incident, (accessed 29th June 2009)
Arasumani, R.; Yeo, L. (2007). Crisis and Conflict (3rd edition). Singapore: Marshall Cavendish International. p. 41
Encyclopedia, http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3401802337.html, (accessed 29th June 2009)
might lead to war, for which they were not prepared. 15
This resulted in the the League's credibility being undermined. Countries became suspicious of the
League of Nations core members and would not trust them enough to approach them with their
country's problems, and without knowing the problems of other countries, the League of Nations
would not even be given the chance to help. Thus causing it to fail in its main aim, to become a place
where countries could resolve issues diplomatically.16
Although the League of Nations eventual failure could not have happened without its lack of
military strength and the lack of support from America, it is to a large extent due to it being
undermined by its own members, in particular, its core members.
Even though the lack of military strength and support from America impacted the League of Nations
greatly, as it caused the League of Nations to lack in the necessary military power as well as adversely
affected its credibility, it was the ultimately hypocrisy of its core members that broke down the
countries trust of the League of Nations, which was the most crucial, as it undermined the League of
Nations from within. Even its two of its core members, Britain and France, who were spearheading the
League of Nations, favoured the policy of appeasement, formed in the 1930s,as a solution, and
caused the League of Nations adopted a similar stance, as they lacked military power and feared war.
Thus the League of Nations became unwilling to intervene in conflicts between countries, and this
caused the League of Nations to act contrary to its aims of becoming a fair “World Parliament”.17
Thus, the fact that the League of Nations were being undermined by its own core members was the
most important factor as compared to the lack of military strength and support from America, as
military strength and America's participation were external factor and could have been countered
eventually if the League of Nations core members did not put their countries national interests before
collective security. However, since it core member manipulated the League of Nations so that they
could benefit from the outcome, the League of Nations lost the last vestiges of its credibility and
relinquished any claims to moral authority.
Word Count: (1287 words)
15 Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abyssinia_Crisis, (accessed 29th June 2009)
16 BBC, http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/mwh/ir1/aimsrev1.shtml, (accessed 29th June 2009)
17 Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeasement_of_Hitler, (accessed 29th June 2009)
Bibliography:
Books:
1)
Arasumani, R.; Yeo, L.(2007). Crisis and Conflict (3rd edition). Singapore: Marshall Cavendish
International. pp.41- 44, 47.
Websites:
2)
BBC, http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/mwh/ir1/aimsrev1.shtml, (accessed
th
29 June 2009)
4)
Encyclopedia, http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3401802337.html, (accessed 29th June
2009)
5)
John and Claire, http://www.johndclare.net/EL1.htm, (accessed 28th June)
3)
Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abyssinia_Crisis, (accessed 29th June 2009)
5)
Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corfu_incident, (accessed 29th June 2009)
6)
Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawes_Plan, (accessed 29th June 2009)
7)
Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Plan, (accessed 29th June 2009)
8)
Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeasement_of_Hitler, (accessed 29th June 2009)
Done by: Cara Yin
Myra Lee