League of Nations: Creation, Aims, Structure, and Failures

When and why was the League of Nations created?

Created in 1919 as part of the Treaty of Versailles; officially began in 1920; based on Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points; aimed to prevent another world war and promote collective security, disarmament, and cooperation.

What were the main aims of the League of Nations?

Collective security, disarmament, international cooperation, improving global living/working conditions, and enforcing peace settlements after WWI.

What was the Assembly of the League?

The body including all member countries that met annually in Geneva, controlled the budget, admitted new members, and required unanimous decisions.

What was the Council of the League?

A smaller executive group meeting several times a year to deal with emergencies and international disputes, including permanent members like Britain, France, Italy, and Japan.

What was the Secretariat?

The administrative body based in Geneva, led by Sir Eric Drummond, responsible for the daily running of the League and coordinating communication.

What was the Permanent Court of International Justice?

A body based in The Hague that settled legal disputes between countries and provided advisory opinions on international law.

What was the International Labour Organisation (ILO)?

An organization that improved working conditions, promoted the 8-hour workday, and tackled child labour and unfair wages.

What was the Refugee Committee (Nansen)?

A committee led by Fridtjof Nansen that helped 400,000 refugees after WWI and introduced the Nansen Passport for stateless persons.

What was the Mandates Commission?

A body that supervised former German and Ottoman colonies to ensure they were governed fairly by Allied powers.

What was the Health Committee?

A committee that fought diseases like malaria and smallpox and improved global health cooperation.

What was the Slavery Commission?

A commission that worked to abolish slavery worldwide and pressured countries to end the slave trade.

Why did the USA not join the League?

The US Senate rejected the Treaty of Versailles, and the country adopted an isolationist policy to avoid foreign entanglements.

What were the main weaknesses of the League?

No army to enforce decisions, dependence on voluntary cooperation, slow unanimous voting, and the absence of major powers like the USA and USSR.

What happened in the Vilna Incident (1920-23)?

Poland seized Vilna from Lithuania; the League failed to enforce a withdrawal, and the city was eventually awarded to Poland.

Why was the Vilna Incident considered a failure for the League?

Poland ignored League authority, the League lacked military power, and it damaged the League's credibility.

What happened in the Aaland Islands dispute?

The League ruled that the islands should stay with Finland but be demilitarised; both Sweden and Finland accepted the decision.

Why was the Aaland Islands dispute a success?

No major powers were involved, both countries accepted the fair compromise, and diplomacy worked without force.

What happened in the Upper Silesia dispute (1921)?

The League divided the territory between Germany and Poland based on a plebiscite, which both sides accepted.

Why was the Upper Silesia dispute a success?

The fair compromise satisfied both sides, prevented potential war, and was achieved through investigation.

What happened in the Corfu Incident (1923)?

Italy invaded Corfu after an Italian general was murdered; the League's decision was bypassed by the Conference of Ambassadors.

What was the Conference of Ambassadors?

A group created in 1919 that enforced peace treaties outside the League and could overrule League decisions.

Why did the Conference of Ambassadors weaken the League?

It took power away from the League, allowed Great Powers to bypass the League, and reduced the credibility of collective security.

What happened in the Bulgaria Incident (1925)?

Greece invaded Bulgaria; the League ordered Greece to withdraw and pay compensation, which Greece complied with.

Why was the Bulgaria Incident a success?

The League responded quickly, and Greece, being a weaker power, complied with the decision.

What happened in the Mosul dispute?

The League ruled that the oil-rich Mosul region should stay with Iraq, a decision accepted by Turkey.

What happened in the Memel dispute?

Lithuania occupied the region, and the League negotiated a settlement that gave the region to Lithuania under supervision.

What happened in Manchuria (1931-33)?

Japan invaded Manchuria; the League's Lytton Commission was too slow, and Japan eventually left the League.

Why did the League fail in Manchuria?

The investigation was too slow, there was no military enforcement, and members were unwilling to act against Japan.

What happened in Abyssinia (1935-36)?

Italy invaded Ethiopia; the League imposed weak sanctions, and Britain and France failed to take strong action.

Why did the League fail in Abyssinia?

Sanctions were weak (no oil ban), Britain and France prioritized Hitler, and the League lost credibility permanently.

Why did the League ultimately fail by 1939?

It could not stop aggression by major powers, lacked military force, and saw collective security fail in practice.