League of Nations Brief slides

1. League of Nations formed in 1920
Main aims
To settle international disputes without
war
_collective___security – countries get
together to protect themselves
To promote disarmament (to disarm)
To encourage social & economic_ co-
operation among countries

2. Structure of the League of Nations
 Covenant  Constitution (Agreement)
 Council  Executive ( UK, Fr, Japan & Italy
were permanent members and had
__veto_________powers)
 Assembly  Voice of members (Parliament)
 Secretariat – (in charge of documents)
Organisations, agencies and commissions
International Court of Justice
International Labour Organisation (ILO)

3. 5 peacekeeping measures of the LON
 Military sanctions, eg arms embargo
Arbitration, mediation, be a peace-maker
Moral persuasion
Economic sanctions, eg refusal to sell
important goods to the offending country
Disarmament

4. Success of the League – improving
social and economic conditions
International Labour Organisation
Improve labour conditions worldwide
Maximum working hours
Minimum wages
Refugee Organisation
Health Organisation
Mandates Commission
SEQ: To what extent was the LON
successful?

5. Territorial disputes in the 1920s,
successes in mediation
The Aaland Islands, 1921
Upper Silesia, 1921 – limited success
Albania, 1920
The Greek-Bulgarian border, 1925

6. Territorial disputes in the 1920s, failures in mediation
 Memel, 1923
 Vilna, 1923
 The Ruhr, 1923
 Corfu, 1923
SEQ 1: ‘The LON was completely successful in
resolving disputes between countries.’ Do you agree?
 Yes, partially successfully, give egs
 No, failed in certain cases, give egs
 SEQ 2: ‘The LON was a complete failure.’ Do you agree?
 Yes, failed in certain areas, give egs.
 No, succeeded in certain areas, give egs.- disputes,
humanitarian issues

8. Why the LON was weak?
 Structural weaknesses –
Limited membership – Germany, USA, Russia were
not in
Veto powers for certain countries
 Lack of moral authority and credibility
Close association with the ToV
Inadequate peacekeeping measures – had no
standing army
 Post-war attitudes of the major powers
Pacifism (afraid to start a war), isolationism (USA kept
out of the world)
Appeasement and distrust – giving in to the aggressor

9. Key failures of the LON in the 1930s
Manchuria, 1931 – failed to stop
_Japan_____ aggression in Northeast
China
Abyssinia, 1935 – 1936 :- failed to stop
___Italy’s________ aggression in Africa
Maps on page 25, 26