Reasons for the Failure of the League of Nations

Reasons for the Failure of the League of Nations

Although there is dispute about whether the League was a success in

the 1920's, it is generally agreed that it was a failure in the 30's.

In 1929, the Wall Street Crash started a long depression that quickly

led to economic problems throughout the world, damaging trade and

industry of all countries. It led to negatively affecting the

relations between countries.

Im 1931, the first major test for the League came about with the

Japanese invasion of Manchuria. Japan's economy and population had

been growing rapidly since the 1900's,and was a major economy by the

1920's. It had a very powerful army and navy, so any leader dictated

government policy. It had a strong industry exporting goods to the USA

and China, and its empire was growing, including the Korean peninsula.

After the Depression China and the US put tariffs on Japan's goods

causing its economy to go into crisis and without the trade Japan was

unable to feed its people; so army leaders decided that to expand its

empire Japan was to use force. This began with the invasion of

Manchuria, after a dispute over control of the South-Manchurian

railway. Claiming that Chinese forces had sabotaged the railway, this

was the perfect excuse to begin the expansion of their empire. They

overran Manchuria, throwing out the Chinese forces. In February 1932 a

puppet government was set up in Manchuria, which did exactly what the

Japanese army had in mind. Later that year planes and gun ships bombed

Shanghai. The civil government in Japan told the army to withdraw, but

its instruction was ignored- the army was in control of Japanese

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... two things that the League could have done. Had they

strongly opposed Mussolini, i.e. with strong diplomatic signals pre

the invasion and sanctions or even military intervention post the

invasion, Mussolini would have probably backed off. On the other hand

they could have allowed the Invasion and not condemn it, i.e. go along

with Mussolini, hence maintaining good relations with him, separating

him from Hitler. Although this option is morally wrong, it would have

been a good long-term option. Doing nothing, however, having condemned

Mussolini's actions distanced Mussolini, and also showed Hitler that

the League was weak and that they would never intervene. The incident

can be thought of as a fatal blow to the League, unlike with Japan,

Italy was a neighbour - there was no excuse and the League had failed

at this test.