History

TO WHAT EXTENT
WAS THE LEAGUE

OF NATIONS A
SUCCESS?
WHAT WAS THE LEAGUE
OF NATIONS
•The League of Nations was introduced after being
proposed by American President Woodrow Wilson at
the Peace Conference in 1919.
•It came into operation on January 20th 1920
•It was the 14th of his 14 points and the only one to be
acted upon.
•It set out with the ambitious intention of creating world
peace and preventing any further conflict.
WHAT KIND OF
LEAGUE?
Various considerations were tabled on the kind of League to be
formed:
a) A simple organization that could get together during
emergencies- British
b) An organization backed by an army that could exist to
enforce the peace settlement- French
c) A broad based organization that would address a wide range
of international problems -USA
The third option carried the day and formed the foundation of
the League.
•Unfortunately for Wilson, the US Senate rejected the idea, whilst
neither Germany nor the USSR were invited to join the organization
initially.
•They therefore drafted the Leagues covenant that set out the
following aims of the League:
Aims of the League
· Discourage aggression between nations
· Encourage nations to disarm
· Improve living and working conditions of people globally
· Encourage countries to co-operate through trade and business
ORGANIZATION/
STRUCTURE OF THE LEAGUE
OF NATIONS
a) ASSEMBLY
This was the central component of the League of Nations.
Its HQ was in Geneva, Switzerland.
It consisted of all representatives of the League from member
countries.
They only met once a year and Decisions had to be unanimous
Roles/ Functions:
It admitted new members.
Controlled the Leagues budget.
Appointed temporary/Non permanent members of the council.
Discussed main agenda of the League.
Appointed judges of the Permanent court of Juctice
Consideration of Treaties
b) THE COUNCIL
Was the executive body of the League.
Met 4-5 times and during emergencies
Consisted of: 4 Permanent members that is: Britain, France, Italy and Japan)
Temporary members - elected by the assembly for a period of 3 yrs.
Each permanent member had a Veto Power. Germany became a permanent
member in 1926.
Roles / Functions:
a) Implement recommendations from the assembly
b) Control the Leagues committees
c) Deal with various issues affecting global peace.
d) whilst the Council could also administer economic sanctions or use an
international force if agreed- administer collective security.
e) Appointed the Secretary General
c) THE SECRETARIAT
• This is the Civil service of the League of Nations, doing all
the administrative work.
• It is based in Geneva, Switzerland.
• Its headed by a SECRETARY GENERAL- The first ever
Sec Gen was called Sir Eric Drummond
Roles/ Functions
❖ Translating documents
❖ Keeping and Publishing records of meetings
❖ Writing and distributing the agendas
d) THE PERMANENT COURT
OF INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE
This was the League's court - set in the Hague, Netherlands.
It comprises of 11 Judges and 4 deputies from different nationalities
elected for 9 yrs.
Roles/ Functions
• It was the Court which would give decisions on border disputes,
and passed any laws.
• It also gave legal advice to the Assembly and Council.
• Primarily its responsibility came in upholding or ammending peace
treaties.
• It interpreted Treaties.
e) INTERNATIONAL LABOUR
ORGANIZATION
This brought together employees, employers and
governments from various countries to try and create
better working conditions.
Roles/ Functions
• It collected information and advised governments
• It promoted good and safe working practices, like relating
to working hours, child labour, womens rights etc
f) THE LEAGUES
COMMISSIONS/ AGENCIES/
COMMITTEES
These were branches of the League set up to deal with
problems caused by the First World War, such as refugees,
global health and working conditions.
They included:
❖ The Health Committee

❖ The Mandates Committee
❖ The Refugees Committee.
❖ The Drug trafficking commission
❖ The Slavery Commission
❖ The Danzig commission
TASK 1
Why was there discussion
about the status of
Danzig at the Paris Peace
Conference? [6]

History

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History

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TO WHAT EXTENT

WAS THE LEAGUE

❖ The Health Committee

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