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League of Nations Crises

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League of Nations Crises

Use the source notes and your historical knowledge to investigate the Manchurian and Abyssinian crises. For written questions, support your judgement with precise evidence.

Source notes: what happened?

MANCHURIA, 1931–33 In September 1931, an explosion damaged a section of railway near Mukden (now Shenyang). The railway was owned by Japan’s South Manchuria Railway. Japanese officers blamed Chinese forces, although the incident was widely believed to have been staged by the Japanese army. Japan used it as a pretext to occupy Manchuria. The League of Nations sent the Lytton Commission to investigate. Its report, published in 1932, criticised Japan’s actions and did not recognise Manchukuo, the state Japan had established in Manchuria. Japan rejected the report and left the League in 1933. The League did not use military force to remove Japanese troops. ABYSSINIA (ETHIOPIA), 1935–36 Italy, ruled by Benito Mussolini, invaded Abyssinia in October 1935. Emperor Haile Selassie appealed to the League. The League condemned Italy and imposed economic sanctions, but important exclusions included oil; the sanctions were also weakened because key trade routes and resources were not fully restricted. Britain and France were reluctant to risk war with Italy. The secret Hoare–Laval proposals, leaked in December 1935, would have given Italy large areas of Abyssinia. The plan caused outrage and was abandoned. Italian forces captured the capital, Addis Ababa, in May 1936. Abyssinia was not protected, and Italy left the League in 1937.

Build the case

Read the source notes before answering. In Question 4, choose the strongest explanation, not simply a fact from the notes.

1.What happened near Mukden in September 1931, and how did Japan use the incident?

2.Name the League commission sent to investigate Manchuria and state one important conclusion of its report.

3.Put these events in chronological order by writing 1–4 beside each: Italy invades Abyssinia; Japan leaves the League; the Mukden Incident; Addis Ababa is captured.

4.Which factor most directly explains why League sanctions did not stop Italy’s invasion of Abyssinia?

The sanctions did not fully restrict vital trade, including oil, and Britain and France feared conflict with Italy.
The League recognised Italy’s claim to Abyssinia before the invasion.
Haile Selassie refused to appeal to the League.
Japan sent troops to defend Italy.

5.Match each person to the correct role.

Haile Selassie
Benito Mussolini
Lord Lytton
Samuel Hoare

Italian leader who ordered the invasion of Abyssinia
British foreign secretary involved in the secret proposals with Laval
Emperor of Abyssinia who appealed to the League
Leader associated with the commission investigating Manchuria

6.The Hoare–Laval proposals offered Italy large areas of Abyssinia. What did the proposals suggest about the priorities of Britain and France?

7.Give one similarity and one difference between the League’s response to the Manchurian Crisis and its response to the Abyssinian Crisis.

8.Explain two reasons why the League failed to stop Japan in Manchuria. Use evidence from the source notes.

9.Complete the two rows using the source notes. Include the League’s action and the outcome for each crisis.

Crisis

League action and outcome

Manchurian Crisis

Abyssinian Crisis

10.“The Abyssinian Crisis did more damage to the League of Nations than the Manchurian Crisis.” How far do you agree? Give evidence from both crises and reach a supported conclusion.