League of Nations

League of Nations

An international organization founded in Geneva, Switzerland in 1920 with the aim of promoting peace, preventing conflicts, and ensuring collective security after World War I.

The period during which the League of Nations was established and ultimately dissolved.

January 10, 1920 - April 20, 1946

Peace and Conflict Prevention

The primary goals of the League of Nations, aiming to discourage aggression, encourage cooperation, and improve living and working conditions worldwide.

Permanent Members

Britain, France, Italy, and Japan, who had the power of veto in the League of Nations.

Temporary Members

Non-permanent members elected by the Assembly for a three-year term in the League of Nations.

Council

• met five times a year

• discuss and resolve disputes between members through discussion

The assembly of the League was…

representatives from each member country would recommend actions to the Council, meeting once a year

Permanent Court of International Justice

The court responsible for peacefully settling disputes between countries.

Secretariat

responsible for keeping records of meetings, preparing reports, and assisting other bodies of the League.

International Labour Organization

aimed at improving working conditions worldwide

Mandates Commissions were responsible for:

• overseeing Germany's old colonies and allies under the control of the League

• ensuring that France and Britain acted in the interest of the people.

Refugees Committee

focused on helping refugees return home or find new homes after World War I.

Slavery Commission

A commission within the League of Nations aimed at abolishing slavery worldwide and assisting mistreated workers.

Health Committee

A committee within the League of Nations that brought together experts to work on public health and disease prevention.

Achievements of the League of Nations,

• return of prisoners of war

• assistance to refugees

• efforts to abolish slavery

• improve health

• enhance working conditions.

Why was the LoN a failure?

lack of funds, racism, and the inability to solve certain problems.

Conflicts

Specific instances of conflicts that arose during the League of Nations' existence, including Vilna, Upper Silesia, Corfu, and Bulgaria.

Unanimous

Complete agreement among all members of the League of Nations.

Veto

The power to forbid or reject a decision or proposal within the League of Nations.

Collective Security

Agreements between countries for mutual defense and to discourage aggression.

Covenant

A set of 26 articles or rules that all members of the League of Nations agreed to follow.

Idealism

A theory of international relations that focuses on the hope that nations will act together to solve international problems and promote peace.

Washington Conference

1921

Corfu Crisis

League fails to act decisively in Italian/Greek dispute in 1923

Bulgaria Crisis

League acts decisively in Greek/Bulgarian dispute in 1925

In what year were the Locarno Treaties signed?

1925

When was the Young Plan introduced?

1929

When was the Manchurian Crisis

1931-1933

When was the Abyssinian Crisis?

1935-1936

Article 10

Collective security: all members defend others from aggression

When did Germany join the LoN?

1926

When did Soviet Union join the LoN?

September 18, 1934

When did the Manchuria crisis take place?

Sep 1931-1933

What happened in the Manchuria crisis?

The Japanese, who owned a railway in China, blamed Chinese nationalists for an explosion and used the opportunity to invade Manchuria

What did the League do about the Manchuria crisis?

The League appointed a commission led by Lord Lytton to investigate but he did not get to Manchuria until April 1932 and did not report until September 1932

What was Japan’s response to Lord Lytton’s report?

In 27 March 1933, Japan resigned from the League

What was the background of Italy when Mussolini came to power?

Mussolini establishes fascists, after strikes, protests, and land seizures. King asks him to form government, popular with public works programs, corruption, and armed forces

Why did Mussolini want to invade Ethiopia?

• Revenge for the Adowa war in 1896

• To rebuild the Roman Empire

• Mussolini wanted the mineral resources available in this part of the world

When did the Abyssinia crisis happen?

1935-1936

What did the League do about the Abyssinia crisis?

Economic sanctions; sanctions on gold, steel and grain.

What was the Hoare-Laval plan?

A secret plan to offer Mussolini most of Abyssinia in return for a truce in the Italo-Ethiopian War.

Who was Haile Selassie?

Emperor of Abyssinia