The Mandate System

The Mandate System IB 20th Century World History

What were the geopolitical and economic impact of the treaties on Europe; the establishment and impact of the mandate system?

Impact of the Treaty of Versailles Treaty of Versailles: Clemenceau was voted out of office in the elections of January 1920. French Field Marshal Ferdinand Foch, declared, "This is not Peace. It is an Armistice for twenty years." • America opposed to the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations. • US Congress passed the Knox-Porter Resolution bringing an end to hostilities between the United States and the Central Powers.

Knox Porter Resolution • Signed by President Warren G. Harding • July 2, 1921 • It officially ended US involvement in WWI

Treaty of Versailles impact on Germany • Germans denounced the treaty—particularly the war guilt clause—as an insult to the nation's honor. • Germany's Chancellor, Phillip Schneidmann refused to sign the treaty and resigned. • The German economy was weak and only a small percentage of reparations was paid. • Germany eventually stopped paying the reparations. As a result French and Belgian forces invaded and occupied the Ruhr.

Impact of Treaty of Saint Germain

• (Dealt with Austria remember) The vast reduction of population, territory and resources of the new Austria relative to the old empire wreaked havoc on the economy of the new nation.

Impact of the Treaty of Trianon • (Dealt with Hungary Remember) • Addressed some nationality issues, but also sparked new ones. • After the new borders had been established, a majority of the 3.3 million Hungarians who lived in now-foreign lands were situated just outside the new border lines and were unhappy.

Mandate System • A League of Nations mandate refers to territories transferred from the control of one country to another following WW I. • The mandate system was established under Article 22 of the League of Nations. • All the mandates were previously controlled by states defeated in WW I, principally Germany and the Ottoman Empire.

Class A Mandates • The mandates were divided into three groups: Class A, B, & C • Class A mandates • Class A mandates were areas formerly controlled by the Ottoman Empire that were recognized as independent nations but were provisionally recognized subject to a lead country until they are able to stand alone.

Examples of Class A Mandates • Mesopotamia (United Kingdom), which became the independent kingdom of Iraq. • Syria (France) After the termination of the French Mandate, to independent nations were formed (Syria and Lebanon)

Class B Mandates • Class B mandates • Class B mandates were all former German territories in the Sub-Saharan regions of West and Central Africa, which were deemed to require a greater level of control by the mandatory power. The mandatory power was forbidden to construct military or naval bases within the mandates.

Example of Class B Mandates • Ruanda-Urundi (Belgium) became two separate nations of Rwanda and Burundi after independence

Class C mandates • Class C mandates • Class C mandates, including South-West Africa and the South Pacific Islands, were considered to be best administered under the laws of the Mandatory as integral portions of its territory. • They essentially became colonies of the Mandates. • The Class C mandates were former German possessions.

Examples of Class C Mandates • former German New Guinea became the Territory of New Guinea (Australia/United Kingdom) • former German Samoa (New Zealand/UK) • South-West Africa (South Africa/UK)