How successful was How successful was the League in the the League in the

1920’s?1920’s?

SuccessesSuccessesAaland Islands, 1921Aaland Islands, 1921

Upper Silesia, 1921Upper Silesia, 1921

Economic collapse in Austria & Hungary, Economic collapse in Austria & Hungary, 1922-31922-3

Greek-Bulgarian dispute, 1925Greek-Bulgarian dispute, 1925

FailuresFailuresVilna, 1920Vilna, 1920

Corfu, 1923Corfu, 1923

The The SuccessesSuccesses

Aaland Islands, 1921Aaland Islands, 1921

Austria and Hungary were on the brink of bankruptcy Austria and Hungary were on the brink of bankruptcy due to reparations and weak economies after the wardue to reparations and weak economies after the warThe league arranged international loans and helped The league arranged international loans and helped them manage their financesthem manage their financesThey were able to begin economic recoveryThey were able to begin economic recovery

Dispute over possession of the Aaland Islands Dispute over possession of the Aaland Islands between Sweden and Finlandbetween Sweden and FinlandTook it to the league, and they decided Finland Took it to the league, and they decided Finland should have the islandsshould have the islandsBoth countries accepted the league’s decisionBoth countries accepted the league’s decision

Economic Collapse, Austria & Economic Collapse, Austria & Hungary, 1922-3Hungary, 1922-3

Upper Silesia, 1921Upper Silesia, 1921A plebiscite area with large numbers of Germans and Poles A plebiscite area with large numbers of Germans and Poles living in itliving in itVoted to rejoin Germany by 700,000 to 420,000Voted to rejoin Germany by 700,000 to 420,000League split it:League split it:– Germany got most of the land & populationGermany got most of the land & population– Poland got most of the industryPoland got most of the industry– Germany bitter about this, but both countries accepted the Germany bitter about this, but both countries accepted the

decision (messy compromise)decision (messy compromise)The Greek-Bulgarian The Greek-Bulgarian Dispute 1925Dispute 1925

Greek-Bulgarian border the source of disputeGreek-Bulgarian border the source of disputeAfter some violent incidents, Greece invaded BulgariaAfter some violent incidents, Greece invaded BulgariaLeague condemned Greece’s actions and pressurised them League condemned Greece’s actions and pressurised them to withdrawto withdrawThey did soThey did so

The The FailuresFailures

Vilna, 1920Vilna, 1920

Vilna was part of the state of Lithuania, but had Vilna was part of the state of Lithuania, but had a mainly Polish population. Both countries a mainly Polish population. Both countries wanted it.wanted it.Was occupied by Poland during the Russo-Polish Was occupied by Poland during the Russo-Polish war, and troops later refused to leave. war, and troops later refused to leave. The league was reluctant to get involved as it The league was reluctant to get involved as it would require armed forces, and Poland was would require armed forces, and Poland was seen as a useful ally against Germany and the seen as a useful ally against Germany and the Soviet UnionSoviet UnionIn the end, the League confirmed Poland’s In the end, the League confirmed Poland’s occupation of Vilnaoccupation of VilnaShowed League as weak and basically uselessShowed League as weak and basically useless

Corfu, 1923Corfu, 1923

Italian surveyors working on the Greek side Italian surveyors working on the Greek side of the Greek-Albanian border were shotof the Greek-Albanian border were shotMussolini demanded compensationMussolini demanded compensationWhen it didn’t come, he bombarded and When it didn’t come, he bombarded and occupied Corfuoccupied CorfuLeague wanted to condemn Italy, but major League wanted to condemn Italy, but major powers wouldn’t allow itpowers wouldn’t allow itInstead they pressurised Greece to accept Instead they pressurised Greece to accept Italy’s termsItaly’s termsOnly when they did, did Mussolini withdrawOnly when they did, did Mussolini withdrawShowed League’s weakness in the face of a Showed League’s weakness in the face of a strong member statestrong member state