INTENTIONS AND AUTHORITY OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Intentions

• Aim: to maintain world peace 

  • included forums to mandate peaceful mediation

  • open diplomacy to settle international disputes

  • eradicate the use of secret deals or war as means of conflict resolution

When was the League of Nations established?

10th January 1920

What did the League of Nations look like?

Council: British, France, Italy and Japan (the five was going to be US)

Assembly, Secretariat (international court of justice, special departments, international labour organisation), Council

Failures of the League of Nations

• Nationalism prevailed over internationalism

• Failed to reflect a balance of power among its members - no US, Germany, Russia

• Obsession with national security and lack of cooperation 

• Failure of Anglo-French cooperation - meant to be same page but weren’t

• Lack of enforceability (‘a toothless tiger’) 

Example:  Impact of the Abyssinia Crisis 

Italy: conquered the Abyssinian area, under ruthless and violent measures 

• League of Nation condemned the act but only mustered weak sanctions against Italy 

• Pushed Italy towards Germany 

• Italy leaves the League of Nation => they resent actions taken by the League of Nations