FLASH REVISE CARDS - THE COUNCIL OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS. The Council's main function was to settle international disputes. The numbers of permanent and non-permanent members varied. Council meetings were held in ordinary session four times a year and as often as needed in extraordinary sessions. 107 public sessions were held between 1920 and 1939. From 1922 onwards, the minutes appeared in the Official Journal. Records for meetings held before 1922 were published separately. The resolutions can only be found in the minutes of the meetings.

1. League of Nations – Mr. D’s History – St. Peter’s College, Auckland, New Zealand
THE COUNCIL OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS
The first meeting of the Council
The Council was the executive body of LON.
The Council was a smaller group than the Assembly, which met more
often, usually 5 times a year or more (emergency).
It included permanent members (Britain, France, Italy, Japan - 1920) and
temporary members. In 1926 Germany became a permanent member.
Temporary members were elected by the Assembly for three-year
periods. The number of temporary members varied between 4 (1920)
and 11 (1936). Each of the permanent members of the Council had a
veto. This meant that one permanent member could stop the Council
acting even if all other members agreed.
The Council's main function was to settle international disputes.
The main idea behind the Council was that if any disputes appear
between members, they will have to bring the problem to the
Council, who will sort it out through discussions before matters go out of
hands, developing in conflicts. LON could also use some super-powers.
Moral condemnation – in which LON could decide which country was
“the aggressor” or which country “to blame for the trouble”. They could
condemn the aggressor’s action and tell it to stop what it was doing.
Economic and financial sanctions – members of LON could refuse to
trade with the aggressor.
Military force – the armed forces could be use against an aggressor.
107 public sessions were held between 1920 and 1939. From 1922
onwards, the minutes appeared in the Official Journal. Records for
meetings held before 1922 were published separately. The resolutions
can only be found in the minutes of the meetings.