Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-5-lon-successes-and-failures

[Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [GCSE](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse.md) › [History](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history.md) › [OCR](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr.md) › LoN Successes & Failures

# LoN Successes & Failures

History: OCR A GCSE Cold War & International Relations, topic 1.1.5

## Successes and Failures of the League of Nations

In the early days of the League of Nations, a few successes enhanced its reputation. However, there were two failures in particular that undid a lot of these early gains.

### Successes - territorial disputes

![Successes - territorial disputes](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/042f6872-0d7d-41e7-83f4-e42aae3ed63d/shutterstock_73792807.jpg)

- The League managed to settle the following territorial disputes whilst avoiding fighting:
 - 1921 dispute over Upper Silesia between Poland and Germany.
 - 1921 dispute over the Aaland Islands between Finland and Sweden.
 - 1925 invasion of Bulgaria by Greece.

### Successes - social and economic

![Successes - social and economic](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-05/2b9fc494-84cf-4013-8ccc-99ab3a4549c1/shutterstock_213211588.jpg)

- The League did other good in addition to settling territorial disputes. 
 - Made a stand against slavery.
 - Helped prevent economic collapse in Hungary and Austria.
 - Assisted WWI refugees.
 - Fought the spread of deadly disease.
 - Made efforts to improve global working conditions.

### Failure - The Corfu Incident, 1923

![Failure - The Corfu Incident, 1923](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-05/eefd50da-1803-4435-9709-85ada0507fd9/shutterstock_327295634.jpg)

- Mussolini decided to occupy Corfu in response to the news that an Italian diplomat had been murdered there.
- Mussolini wanted an apology and money from Greece, whilst the League wanted the money themselves.
- The League appeared weak when Mussolini eventually managed to receive both of his demands.

### Failure - French Occupation of the Ruhr, 1923

![Failure - French Occupation of the Ruhr, 1923](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-05/b58c2973-f4d2-427f-82c5-5522a9f4dcf8/shutterstock_351221261.jpg)

- France's retaliation to Germany's inability to repay them was to occupy the industrial Ruhr region of Germany.
- The League chose not to get involved.
- The situation was eventually settled by the USA's Dawes Plan in 1925.

## International Agreements in the 1920s

Many countries decided to bypass the League of Nations in the 1920s by signing their own treaties. Some of these agreements are outlined below:

### The Dawes Plan, 1924

![The Dawes Plan, 1924](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/29db8108-56b5-4df1-b83f-7643abf2839c/shutterstock_132159902.jpg)

- The Dawes Plan, which was designed by the American Charles Dawes, helped Germany pay their reparations (payments to the victors). 
 - Banks in the US loaned 800 million Reichsmarks (the new currency of Germany) to German industries.
 - Reparation instalments (fixed regular payments) were temporarily made £50 million a year.
- This plan succeeded in boosting the German economy (which was in ruins).

### Locarno Pact, 1925

![Locarno Pact, 1925](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/042f6872-0d7d-41e7-83f4-e42aae3ed63d/shutterstock_73792807.jpg)

- In 1925, Germany signed an agreement with Great Britain, France, Italy and Belgium called the Locarno Pact.
 - In this pact, Germany recognised their borders with France and the demilitarisation (withdrawing military from an area) of the Rhineland.
 - The Locarno Pact also paved the way for Germany to be added to the League of Nations.
- But, Czechoslovakia and Poland were still concerned because the agreement said nothing about their borders with Germany.

### Kellogg-Briand Pact, 1928

![Kellogg-Briand Pact, 1928](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/042f6872-0d7d-41e7-83f4-e42aae3ed63d/shutterstock_73792807.jpg)

- In 1928, Germany was one of 65 countries to sign the Kellogg-Briand Pact.
 - In this pact, countries agreed to disarm (give up or reduce armed forces) and not use 'aggression' to resolve disagreements.
- Downsides of this agreement were that 'aggression' wasn't defined and it was unclear what the consequences of breaking the pact would be.
- Nonetheless, this pact represented a big step in the right direction towards peace.

### The Young Plan, 1929

![The Young Plan, 1929](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/3f758f87-de5d-4b79-9a3f-75692c581a20/shutterstock_785842684.jpg)

- The Young Plan proposed to reduce German reparations (payments to the victors) as Germany was still having problems finding the money.
 - The Young Plan aimed to lower the total reparations from £6.6 billion to £2 billion.
 - The payments would continue until 1988.
- Several Brits thought reducing the reparations again wasn't fair.

## Test yourself on LoN Successes & Failures

- In what year did the League of Nations suffer its first two major failures?
- Which Greek island was occupied by Mussolini in 1923 in response to the murder of an Italian diplomat?
- Which of the following was NOT an agreement aimed at promoting international peace after WWI?
- Which of the following international agreements was signed in 1925?
- International Agreements in the 1920s

[Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/2536af80-4f7c-11e8-9781-7528a1e10f88/section/5599de06-7212-424a-b76b-6eb419d71fdd/session)

- Previous topic: [1.1.4 Versailles & the League of Nations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-4-versailles-and-the-league-of-nations.md)
- Next topic: [1.1.6 LoN Failure - Upper Silesia](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-6-lon-failure-upper-silesia.md)

## History: OCR A GCSE Cold War & International Relations contents

### 1 Key Topics
- 1.1 Conflict & Cooperation 1918-1939
  - [1.1.1 The Treaty of Versailles](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-1-the-treaty-of-versailles.md)
  - [1.1.2 The Terms of Versailles 1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-2-the-terms-of-versailles-1.md)
  - [1.1.3 The Terms of Versailles 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-3-the-terms-of-versailles-2.md)
  - [1.1.4 Versailles & the League of Nations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-4-versailles-and-the-league-of-nations.md)
  - [1.1.5 LoN Successes & Failures](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-5-lon-successes-and-failures.md)
  - [1.1.6 LoN Failure - Upper Silesia](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-6-lon-failure-upper-silesia.md)
  - [1.1.7 LoN Failure - Corfu & Washington](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-7-lon-failure-corfu-and-washington.md)
  - [1.1.8 End of Topic Test - Treaties and Agreements](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-8-end-of-topic-test-treaties-and-agreements.md)
  - [1.1.9 The Great Depression](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-9-the-great-depression.md)
  - [1.1.10 Tension in Europe in the 1930s](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-10-tension-in-europe-in-the-1930s.md)
  - [1.1.11 WWII & Failure of the League of Nations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-11-wwii-and-failure-of-the-league-of-nations.md)
  - [1.1.12 End of Topic Test - Tension in the 1930s](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-12-end-of-topic-test-tension-in-the-1930s.md)
  - [1.1.13 Grade 9 - Conflict & Cooperation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-13-grade-9-conflict-and-cooperation.md)
- 1.2 The Cold War 1945-c.1989
  - [1.2.1 Emerging US-Soviet Rivalry](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-1-emerging-us-soviet-rivalry.md)
  - [1.2.2 Communism in the 20th Century](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-2-communism-in-the-20th-century.md)
  - [1.2.3 The Truman Doctrine & Marshall Plan](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-3-the-truman-doctrine-and-marshall-plan.md)
  - [1.2.4 East-West Alliances](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-4-east-west-alliances.md)
  - [1.2.5 Berlin Crises](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-5-berlin-crises.md)
  - [1.2.6 The End of the Berlin Wall](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-6-the-end-of-the-berlin-wall.md)
  - [1.2.7 End of Topic Test - East & West](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-7-end-of-topic-test-east-and-west.md)
  - [1.2.8 Build-up to the Cuban Missile Crisis](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-8-build-up-to-the-cuban-missile-crisis.md)
  - [1.2.9 The Cuban Missile Crisis](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-9-the-cuban-missile-crisis.md)
  - [1.2.10 Cold War Conflict - Vietnam](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-10-cold-war-conflict-vietnam.md)
  - [1.2.11 Cold War Conflict - Afghanistan](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-11-cold-war-conflict-afghanistan.md)
  - [1.2.12 End of Topic Test - The Cold War 1945-1989](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-12-end-of-topic-test-the-cold-war-1945-1989.md)
  - [1.2.13 Grade 9 - The Cold War](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-13-grade-9-the-cold-war.md)
  - [1.2.14 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Russia vs USSR](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-14-diagnostic-misconceptions-russia-vs-ussr.md)
  - [1.2.15 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Stalin & the Atom Bomb](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-15-diagnostic-misconceptions-stalin-and-the-atom-bomb.md)
  - [1.2.16 Diagnostic Misconceptions - The Iron Curtain](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-16-diagnostic-misconceptions-the-iron-curtain.md)
  - [1.2.17 Diagnostic Misconceptions - The Truman Doctrine](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-17-diagnostic-misconceptions-the-truman-doctrine.md)
  - [1.2.18 Diagnostic Misconceptions - USSR vs Eastern Europe](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-18-diagnostic-misconceptions-ussr-vs-eastern-europe.md)
  - [1.2.19 Diagnostic Misconceptions - The Berlin Airlift](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-19-diagnostic-misconceptions-the-berlin-airlift.md)
  - [1.2.20 Diagnostic Misconceptions - The Berlin Wall](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-20-diagnostic-misconceptions-the-berlin-wall.md)
  - [1.2.21 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Hungarian Uprising](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-21-diagnostic-misconceptions-hungarian-uprising.md)
  - [1.2.22 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Stalin's Death](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-22-diagnostic-misconceptions-stalins-death.md)
  - [1.2.23 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Cuba](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-23-diagnostic-misconceptions-cuba.md)
  - [1.2.24 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Bay of Pigs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-24-diagnostic-misconceptions-bay-of-pigs.md)
- 1.3 From the End of the Cold War to 9/11
  - [1.3.1 Reagan & Gorbachev](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-3-1-reagan-and-gorbachev.md)
  - [1.3.2 Consequences of the Soviet War in Afghanistan](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-3-2-consequences-of-the-soviet-war-in-afghanistan.md)
  - [1.3.3 End of Topic Test - End of the Cold War to 9/11](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-3-3-end-of-topic-test-end-of-the-cold-war-to-911.md)
  - [1.3.4 Grade 9 - The End of the Cold War](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-3-4-grade-9-the-end-of-the-cold-war.md)
  - [1.3.5 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Fall of the Wall](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-3-5-diagnostic-misconceptions-fall-of-the-wall.md)

### 2 Changing Interpretations
- 2.1 Changing Interpretations
  - [2.1.1 Appeasement](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/2-1-1-appeasement.md)
  - [2.1.2 The Responsibility for Cold War Tensions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/2-1-2-the-responsibility-for-cold-war-tensions.md)
  - [2.1.3 End of Topic Test - Appeasement](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/2-1-3-end-of-topic-test-appeasement.md)
  - [2.1.4 Grade 9 - Changing Interpretations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/2-1-4-grade-9-changing-interpretations.md)