League of Nations Ch. 16 Paper 3

Aims of the league

1. Prevent wars (emphasized in article 10)

2. promote international cooperation through variety of orgs.

3. promote arms reduction and control arms manufacturing

Could promote economic sanctions and if it didn’t work → members could supply armed forces against aggressor

organization into league

1. The Assembly

2. The Council

3. The Secretariat

4. Court of International Justice

5. Number diff. committees

the assembly

Every member was represented in Assembly - decided general policy and budget

a unanimous vote was required on important decisions (veto right to each other)

the council

• made up by permanent members/great powers and chosen non-permanent members

• First permanent members: Britain, France, Italy, and Japan

• These members played a major role when it collapsed in 1930s

the Secretariat

responsible for implementation of decisions made by league

court of international justice

according to covenant, members should bring their disputes to the court

Diff. committees to deal w/ specific problems

• International Labour Organization (working conditions and living conditions)

• Health Organization

• Mandates Commission

beginnings of the league

• came into existence on Jan 10 1920

• Many nations join or didn’t join or weren’t allowed to join

• US senate refused to be in the League

• Germany and Russia were not allowed

early successes 1920s and what was the most important

1. Danzig was established as a free city controlled by league

2. Upper Silesia was divided between Germany and Poland after plebiscite in 1921

3. Aaland was handed over to Finland after dispute in Sweden 1921

4. Austria was given financial when she was close to collapse in 1922

5. League could prevent hostilities between Greece and Bulgaria

Most important: diff. organizations and committees

• International Labour Organization

• Health Organization - success in combatting diseases

• Refugee Organization

• Mandates Commission - supervised and administrated ares taken from Germany and Turkey after the war.

failing major tests 1930s

Japan invaded Manchuria, Disarment, Italy invaded Abyssinia in 1935, and few members brought their dispute to Court of International Justice

Japan invaded Manchuria

• first time League is faced with aggression by its major powers

• League condemned Japan and ordered troops to leave but didn’t.

• League suggestsed Manchuria be governed by Chinese administration in Oct 1932

• Rejected by Japan. and left the organization in 1933

Disarmament

When Germany joined in 1926 and Hitler came into power in 1933 - it was most important to discuss disarmament

• Disarmament Conference 1932

• Germany demanded equality between France and Britain in the conference.

• Germany didn’t agree to the rearmament, living in restriction of TofV, and disarmament of France.

• This was refused and Germany left the league and conference in oct. 1933

Italy invaded Abyssinia 1935

League of Nations were determined to keep good relations with Italy since they weren’t allies with Germany

• Italy was declared an aggressor and League decided to impose sanctions

• Hoare-Laval pact was enacted: Britain and France proposed giving Italy some portions of Ethiopia (Abyssinia) and when this was leaked, led to an outcry.

• Britain and France tried to retract its actions but it was irreparable

• Led Italy closer to Hitler

reasons the League fell

Weakness in the council, important countries were absent, League was part of the Paris Settlement, no military troops, Japan, Italy, Britain, and France contributed to the weakness.

Weakness of council

Veto power in the council and assembly limited its power and actions

Countries absent

• US not joining

  → affected the organization economically and psychologically

• Two of the most powerful states in Europe were not members

• Germany joined in 1926 but left in 1933 - same year Japan left

Paris Settlement

This settlement was deeply resented especially in Germany and Italy

Weakened the authority of the League

• US not joining despite Woodrow being the one that created the League

• Treaty of Versailles

No military troops

Strong military presence could’ve deterred an aggressor.

Four important members dropping

Manchurian and Abyssinia failure, as well as France and Britain contributed the weakening of the authority of the league.