• Stopped intervening (eg Civil War, Czechoslovakia)
• Few nations left but they stopped relying on it → instead made alliances, , prepped for war.
• Many (incl Britain) opted out of → refused to support sanctions.
The League still took some actions:
1. 1936: League set up a after Abyssinia.
◦ Nations suggested different ideas: tougher action, no intervention, more consultation, prevention focus.
◦ No agreement → no progress.
2. Agencies continued work → May-Aug 1939: (led by Australian Stanley Bruce) suggested reorganising agencies under ‘Committee for Economic & Social Questions’.
◦ ∴ saving even if peacekeeping role lost
◦ League adopted this, but WWII began days later.
◦ UN later adopted Bruce’s ideas.
3. Sept 1939: War began → League HQ in closed throughout war.
4. 1943: Conference → USA, Britain & USSR agreed to form United Nations post-war.
5. 12 Apr 1946: League formally abolished.
◦ British delegate Robert Cecil: ". Long live the United Nations."
Reasons for Failure
League failed in Manchuria & Abyssinia ∵
• Weak – No army. did not work. Could only go ‘tut-tut’.
• America – USA (strongest power) never joined. Britain & France ≠ strong enough alone.
◦ But NB: USA worked w. League in 1930s (eg opposed Manchukuo, Chaco War, Abyssinia) … ie this is not main reason.
• Depression → nations focused on own survival, sought land & power, ignored world peace.
• – More League failed → less nations trusted it → ignored it, built armies, made alliances.
• Members – Key nations let it down:
◦ Italy & Japan defied League, left.
◦ Britain & France it.
• Big bullies – Worked vs weak nations in 1920s but failed vs strong ones in 1930s (Germany, Italy, Japan).
After Abyssinia, the League slowly died:
• Stopped intervening (eg SPANISH Civil War, Czechoslovakia)
• Few nations left but they stopped relying on it → instead made alliances, RE-ARMED, prepped for war.
• Many (incl Britain) opted out of ARTICLE 16 → refused to support sanctions.
The League still took some actions:
1. 1936: League set up a REFORM COMMITTEE after Abyssinia.
◦ Nations suggested different ideas: tougher action, no intervention, more consultation, prevention focus.
◦ No agreement → no progress.
2. Agencies continued work → May-Aug 1939: BRUCE COMMITTEE (led by Australian Stanley Bruce) suggested reorganising agencies under ‘Committee for Economic & Social Questions’.
◦ ∴ saving AGENCIES even if peacekeeping role lost
◦ League adopted this, but WWII began days later.
◦ UN later adopted Bruce’s ideas.
3. Sept 1939: War began → League HQ in GENEVA closed throughout war.
4. 1943: TEHRAN Conference → USA, Britain & USSR agreed to form United Nations post-war.
5. 12 Apr 1946: League formally abolished.
◦ British delegate Robert Cecil: "THE LEAGUE IS DEAD. Long live the United Nations."
Reasons for Failure
League failed in Manchuria & Abyssinia ∵
• Weak – No army. SANCTIONS did not work. Could only go ‘tut-tut’.
• America – USA (strongest power) never joined. Britain & France ≠ strong enough alone.
◦ But NB: USA worked w. League in 1930s (eg opposed Manchukuo, Chaco War, Abyssinia) … ie this is not main reason.
