Large invasions

Japan Invading Manchuria

• First major test for the league.
• Japan is now a major power with a strong army and navy, strong industry and growing empire.
• Then depression - economy in crisis - Japan couldn't feed people - Army leaders try to build up Japan by force.
• Japan's army overran Manchuria and throughout Chinese forces - set up a puppet government - bombed Shanghai.
• Government in Japan told army to withdraw but refused.
• China appealed to the league.
• L O N G delay before League of Nations did anything. Agreed Japan was wrong and Manchuria should return to Japan.
• Japan said it would invade more and resigned from the league.
• FAILURE
• League made excuses like Japan was a special case and so far away.
• Sanctions were no good without USA.
• Britain wanted to stay on Japans good side.
• As critics had warned the league was powerless if a strong nation was aggressive.
• Hitler and Mussolini followed Japan's example 3 years later.

Mussolini invading Abyssinia

• Fatal blow - Italy was a leading member of League of Nations.
• Very close to the league - Europe.
• Mussolini wanted victories so prepared for a full invasion of Abysinia.
• Britain and France didn't take it seriously and played for time. They wanted to keep on the good side of Mussolini.
• Mussolini launched attack (large attacking small).
• League decided to impose sanctions but delayed oil imports for 2 months.
• Failed to block of the Suez Canal.
• Secret dealing between Britain, France and Italy to give Italy 2/3 of Abysinnia if he called of the attack.
• Details leaked to press - disaster - sacked.
• America disgusted by league and stepped up oil exports to Italy.
• Hitler marched into Rhineland March 1936.
• France now wanted Italy as an ally.
• May 1936 Italy had taken Abyssinia's capital.
• COLLECTIVE SECURITY + LEAGUE OF NATIONS FAILED