Early Acts of Appeasement
The Failures of the League of Nations:
USA does not join
Germany joins 1926
Germany pulls out in 1933
Lack of enforcement (only economic sanctions)
Too closely linked with the Treaty of Versailles
Nationalism too strong (big guys don’t want little guys to tell them what to do)
Japanese Occupation of Manchuria, 1931:
Japan owns South Manchurian railway
Military operation in 1931 claiming Manchuria (renamed Manchukuo)
1932 – League’s Lytton commission decides Japan to leave
Japan quits the league then invades northern China in 1933
League decides this conflict has no effect on Europe so they ignore the situation
Two men in Europe take notice
Italian Occupation of Abyssinia (Ethiopia), 1935:
Italy had interest in colony since 1895
Mussolini wanted to expand his empire (Imperialism)
1934 an incident is set up where Italians are killed
Ethiopia appealed to the league
The End of the League of Nations:
League does not respond - Italy invades
Economic sanctions threatened by League
Hoare-Laval plan gives most of Ethiopia to Italy if fighting stopped
Plan undermines the league
People lose interest - Mussolini completes conquest
Signals end of the league (still exists until 1945)
USA does not join
Germany joins 1926
Germany pulls out in 1933
Lack of enforcement (only economic sanctions)
Too closely linked with the Treaty of Versailles
Nationalism too strong (big guys don’t want little guys to tell them what to do)
Japanese Occupation of Manchuria, 1931:
Japan owns South Manchurian railway
Military operation in 1931 claiming Manchuria (renamed Manchukuo)
1932 – League’s Lytton commission decides Japan to leave
Japan quits the league then invades northern China in 1933
League decides this conflict has no effect on Europe so they ignore the situation
Two men in Europe take notice
Italian Occupation of Abyssinia (Ethiopia), 1935:
Italy had interest in colony since 1895
Mussolini wanted to expand his empire (Imperialism)
1934 an incident is set up where Italians are killed
Ethiopia appealed to the league
The End of the League of Nations:
League does not respond - Italy invades
Economic sanctions threatened by League
Hoare-Laval plan gives most of Ethiopia to Italy if fighting stopped
Plan undermines the league
People lose interest - Mussolini completes conquest
Signals end of the league (still exists until 1945)