It is an armistice for twenty years. These statements clearly show the harsh realities of the League. It was indeed a harsh peace, which did not completely satisfy the needs of all countries involved. Many feel it was essentially an opportunity for France to impose harsh repercussions on Germany for the destruction of her country. The main provisions of the League were.
The German army was to be limited to 100,000 and conscription banned. The navy was also to be reduced to a coastal force and the building of submarines and battleships were forbidden so too, was a German air force. She was also to lose European territory including Alsace-Lorraine, Eupen, Malmedy, North Schleswig, West Prussia, Poznania, and parts of Upper Silesia and Memel, and all her non-European colonies were to be placed under the control of the League of Nations. The Saar coalmining region was to be placed under the leagues control until 1935 and all foreign currency and gold was to be confiscated. A union with Austria was forbidden and Germany was ordered to pay £6,600 million in reparations in war damages and pensions inflicted on Britain, Italy and France. She was also forced to accept guilt for starting the war and had to agree to accept a democratic constitution. .
Britain especially held a widespread consensus that the treaty of Versailles had punished Germany too harshly for starting and losing the First World War. Thus Britain to an extent felt that the unjust nature of the treaty might provoke Germany to reverse the terms of the peace by force.
Thus Britain and France instead of backing the League and collective security, preferred appeasement. Therefore the League lacking strong support, failed to curb the aggressors. This was highlighted in the event of 7th March 1936 when Germany Remilitarised the Rhineland. Under the treaty of Versailles the Rhineland was declared a demilitarised zone, this can be looked upon as an act of aggression as it breaks the terms of the treaty of Versailles, and also the Locarno agreement.
