2. WAS DUMB
W – Weak
A - Abyssinia
S - Structure
D - Depression
U - Unsuccessful
M - Manchuria
B - Bullies
3. W – Weak
Without America, Russia and Germany the League of
Nations was weak.
The League’s ‘powers’ (HERMEM remember) were little
more than going ‘tut-tut’. Sanctions did not work.
It had no army to back it up.
A - Abyssinia
Mussolini got ready to invade Abyssinia (Ethiopia) in 1935. Britain and
France didn’t shut the SUEZ CANAL.
The League talked to Mussolini but he ignored them and sent in his
army. He also ignored sanctions (which countries didn’t follow through
properly anyway).
Britain and France secretly arranged the Hoare and Laval Pact to give
Mussolini Abyssinia. This undermined the League’s authority.
4. S - Structure
The League was muddled, so it took ages to do anything.
Members couldn’t agree – but decisions had to be
unanimous.
The four permanent members had the power of VETO (the
ability to cancel any law they didn’t like). This paralysed the
League.
D - Depression
The world-wide Depression made countries try to get more
land and power.
They were worried about themselves, not about world
peace. In some cases they did not enforce sanctions so
they could still trade.
5. U - Unsuccessful
The more the League failed, the less people trusted it.
In the end, everybody just ignored it.
Its failures gave Hitler the confidence to challenge the
TOV.
M - Manchuria
In 1931 Japan invaded Manchuria after the bombing of the S.
Manchurian Railway at Mukden.
The League sent Lord Lytton to study the problem (this took a year).
Japan refused to leave Manchuria. Instead, Japan left the League.
Many countries had important trading links with Japan. Britain and
France did not want a war, so nothing was done.
6. B - Bullies
In the 1920s, the League had dealt with weak
countries (e.g. Finland & Sweden – Aaland Islands).
In the 1930s, powerful countries like Germany, Italy
and Japan attacked weaker countries.
They were too strong for the League to stop them.
REMEMBER –
WAS DUMB
Why the League of Nations failed!