League of Nations- Border Disputes 1920's

Border Disputes

Vilna- 1921

Upper Silesia- 1921

Aaland Islands- 1921

Corfu-1923

Bulgaria- 1925

Vilna

• The Polish army took control of Vilna
• Lithuania appealed to the League for help. When the league protested to Poland, they wouldn't withdraw.
• Britain wouldn't act alone and because France didn't want to upset Poland(possibly ally to germany in the future)- they wouldn't act either.
• The League did nothing- FAILURE.

Upper Silesia

• Upper Silesia was an industrial region in both Germany and Poland. They both wanted control.
• The people voted and the industrial area voted for Germany and the rural area for POland.
• The League gave these areas to each country and built safeguards to protect against fighting.
• Arrangements were made for supplies and this was accepted by both countries.
• SUCCESS!

Aaland Islands

• Sweden and Finland both wanted control of the Islands.
• They both appealed to the League and the league decided that Finland should have the islands- accepted by Sweden!
• This avoided war and was therefore a success

Bulgaria

• Greek troops invaded Bulgaria in 1925 because some Greek soliders had been killed there.
• Bulgaria appealed to the league and the League condemned Greece.
• Greece pulled out of Bulgaria AND payed compensation.
• SUCCESS

Corfu

• An Italian ambassador was killed and Mussolini was outraged.
• He ordered Greece to pay compensation and occupied Corfu---> 15 people were killed and Greece appealed to the League.
• The League condemned Italy and acted swiftly- they said that Greece should pay compensation to the League which would be payed to Italy if the killers were found.
• OFFICIALY Mussolini accepted but out of the public eye he changed the league's ruling and Greece payed compensation straight to Italy.
• Mussolini then withdrew boasting of his triumph!
• FAILURE!!