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Book No. – 52 (History)
Book Name – Modern World History (Norman Lowe)
What’s Inside the Chapter? (After Subscription)
1. SUMMARY OF EVENTS
2. WHAT WERE THE ORIGINS OF THE LEAGUE?
3 HOW WAS THE LEAGUE ORGANIZED?
4 SUCCESSES OF THE LEAGUE
4.1. It would be unfair to dismiss the League as a total failure
4.2. Political disputes resolved
5. WHY DID THE LEAGUE FAIL TO PRESERVE PEACE?
5.1. It was too closely linked with the Versailles Treaties
5.2. It was rejected by the USA
5.3. Other important powers were not involved
5.4. The Conference of Ambassadors in Paris was an embarrassment
5.5. There were serious weaknesses in the Covenant
5.6. It was very much à French/British affair
5.7. The world economic crisis began in 1929
5.8. The Japanese invasion of Manchuria (1931)
5.9. The failure of the World Disarmament Conference (1932-3)
5.10. The Italian invasion of Abyssinia (October 1935)
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The League of Nation
Chapter – 3
SUMMARY OF EVENTS
- League of Nations came into existence on 10 January 1920, with headquarters in Geneva.
- Its main aim was to settle international disputes to prevent future wars.
- Initially, the League seemed to function successfully in the 1920s, resolving minor international disputes and achieving valuable economic and social work.
- The League helped refugees and former prisoners of war find their way home.
- In 1930, supporters felt optimistic about the League’s future, with Jan Smuts calling it “one of the great miracles of history.”
- In the 1930s, the League’s authority was challenged:
- Japan invaded Manchuria (1931) and ignored the League’s orders to withdraw.
- Italy attacked Abyssinia (1935) and also ignored the League’s orders.
- The League failed to force Japan and Italy to comply with its orders.
- After 1935, the League’s weaknesses became more apparent, and respect for it declined.
- During Germany’s disputes with Czechoslovakia and Poland, the League was not consulted and failed to prevent war.
- After December 1939, the League did not meet again and was dissolved in 1946, marking its failure in preventing war.
WHAT WERE THE ORIGINS OF THE LEAGUE?
- The League of Nations is often credited to Woodrow Wilson, but it was a result of multiple world statesmen’s ideas during World War I.
- Lord Robert Cecil (Britain), Jan Smuts (South Africa), and Leon Bourgeois (France) put forward schemes for the organization.
- Lloyd George of Britain referred to it as one of Britain’s war aims.
- Wilson included the League in his 14 Points and insisted that the League Covenant be included in each peace treaty, ensuring the League’s actual establishment.
- The League had two main aims:
- To maintain peace through collective security: if one state attacked another, member states would act together to restrain the aggressor using economic or military sanctions.
- To encourage international cooperation to solve economic and social problems.
HOW WAS THE LEAGUE ORGANIZED?
- The League of Nations started with 42 member states, growing to 55 by 1926 with Germany’s admission. It had five main organs.
- General Assembly: Met annually with representatives of all member states, each having one vote. Its functions included deciding general policy, proposing revisions of peace treaties, and handling finances. Decisions required unanimous approval. It gave small and medium-sized states a chance to raise issues.
- Council: Smaller body, meeting at least three times a year, with permanent members (Britain, France, Italy, Japan). The USA was to be permanent but did not join. The Council dealt with specific political disputes, and decisions required unanimous approval.
- Permanent Court of International Justice: Based in Hague, consisted of 15 judges from different nationalities. It handled legal disputes between states, not political ones, and gained respect by resolving 66 cases by 1939.
- Secretariat: Managed all administrative tasks, such as preparing agendas, writing resolutions, and executing decisions. Acted as an international civil service, with members from over 30 countries.
- Commissions and committees: Formed to address issues like mandates, military affairs, minority groups, and disarmament. It had committees on labour, health, economic and financial organization, child welfare, drug problems, and women’s rights.
- The League’s main function was peacekeeping. Disputes threatening war would be submitted, and any member resorting to war would face collective action. The Council would recommend what military contributions were needed.