League of Nations

When was the League of Nations created

Created in 1919 as part of the Treaty of Versailles; began in 1920; based on Wilson's Fourteen Points; aimed to prevent war; promoted collective security

What were the aims of the League of Nations

Collective security (countries protect each other); disarmament; international cooperation; improve living/working conditions; enforce peace settlements

What was the Assembly

All member states; met once a year in Geneva; unanimous voting required; controlled budget; admitted new members

What was the Council

Smaller executive body; met several times a year; Britain, France, Italy, Japan permanent members; dealt with crises; could recommend sanctions

What was the Secretariat

Administrative HQ in Geneva; ran daily work; prepared reports; led by Sir Eric Drummond; coordinated communication

What was the Permanent Court of International Justice

Based in The Hague; settled disputes between countries; gave legal advice; helped prevent conflict; rulings only binding if accepted

What was the International Labour Organisation (ILO)

Improved working conditions; 8-hour day promotion; tackled child labour; improved wages/safety; included governments, employers, workers

What was the Refugee Committee (Nansen)

Led by Fridtjof Nansen; helped ~400,000 refugees; mainly Russian and Ottoman refugees; created Nansen Passport; allowed stateless travel/work

What was the Mandates Commission

Supervised former German/Ottoman colonies; ensured fair governance; reported on administration; prevented exploitation; no enforcement power

What was the Health Committee

Fought diseases like malaria/smallpox; shared medical research; improved global health cooperation; controlled epidemics; early global health body

What was the Slavery Commission

Worked to abolish slavery; pressured countries; collected data; raised awareness; limited enforcement power

Why did the USA not join the League

Senate rejected Treaty of Versailles; isolationism; avoided foreign wars; weakened League power; lost major economic/military support

What were the weaknesses of the League

No army; depended on cooperation; unanimous voting slowed decisions; USA/USSR absent early; countries ignored rulings

What happened in the Vilna Incident

Poland seized Vilna from Lithuania; created puppet Central Lithuania; Lithuania appealed to League; League failed to enforce withdrawal; Vilna given to Poland (1923)

Why was Vilna a failure

Poland ignored League authority; no military force; showed weakness vs strong states; League accepted outcome; damaged credibility

What happened in the Aaland Islands

Sweden and Finland dispute; League investigated; ruled islands stay with Finland; demilitarised islands; both accepted decision

Why was Aaland Islands a success

Both sides accepted ruling; peaceful solution; fair compromise; small states involved; no force needed

What happened in Upper Silesia

Germany vs Poland dispute; violence after plebiscite; League divided region; Germany west, Poland east; both accepted

Why was Upper Silesia a success

Fair compromise; based on vote/investigation; prevented war; accepted by both; no major opposition

What happened in the Corfu Incident

Italy invaded Corfu after murder of general; Greece appealed; League ordered compensation; Italy ignored ruling; settled by Conference of Ambassadors

What was the Conference of Ambassadors

Created 1919; Britain, France, Italy, Japan; enforced peace treaties; could override League decisions; final authority in disputes

Why did the Conference of Ambassadors weaken the League

Took authority away; bypassed League decisions; reduced credibility; showed League not main power; encouraged ignoring League

What happened in the Bulgaria Incident

Greece invaded Bulgaria; Bulgaria appealed; League ordered withdrawal; Greece complied; Greece paid compensation

Why was Bulgaria a success

Quick response; Greece complied; no major powers involved; collective security worked; decision enforced

What happened in Manchuria

Japan invaded 1931; created Manchukuo; League sent Lytton Commission; slow response; Japan left League in 1933

Why did the League fail in Manchuria

Slow investigation; no army; members unwilling to act; Japan ignored League; collective security failed

What happened in Abyssinia

Italy invaded Ethiopia 1935; used modern weapons; weak League sanctions; Britain/France avoided strong action; Ethiopia defeated

Why did the League fail in Abyssinia

Weak sanctions (no oil embargo); Britain/France prioritised Hitler; Italy ignored League; credibility collapsed; enforcement failure

Why did the League ultimately fail

Failed against aggression; no army; major powers ignored/left; collective security failed; collapsed by WWII