League of Nations League of Nations

League of Nations Palace of Nations—Geneva, Switzerland—League Headquarters Palace of Nations—Geneva, Switzerland—League Headquarters

League of Nations Aims: promote int’l cooperation—settle disputes Aims: promote int’l cooperation—settle disputes through negotiation through negotiation prevent war through collective security prevent war through collective security improve global welfare improve global welfare disarmament disarmament January 1920: formally came into existence January 1920: formally came into existence Official languages: French & English Official languages: French & English

League Bodies Council Council Assembly Assembly Secretariat… headed by Secretary-General Secretariat… headed by Secretary-General Closely related, but autonomous bodies… Closely related, but autonomous bodies… Permanent Court of International Justice Permanent Court of International Justice International Labor Organization International Labor Organization

League Bodies League established subsidiary bodies to promote cooperation in fields of health, education, social & economic matters League established subsidiary bodies to promote cooperation in fields of health, education, social & economic matters Commission for Refugees est. 1921; created the Nansen passport to help identify and resettle refugees Commission for Refugees est. 1921; created the Nansen passport to help identify and resettle refugees Passport named for Fridtjof Nansen Passport named for Fridtjof Nansen

League of Nations No military or peacekeeping force No military or peacekeeping force Member nations were NOT required to provide troops if it became necessary to ensure peace Member nations were NOT required to provide troops if it became necessary to ensure peace “Anything the League does or does not do is due to the policies of the Government members of the League, who, in their turn, are moved by the pressure of public opinion behind them” “Anything the League does or does not do is due to the policies of the Government members of the League, who, in their turn, are moved by the pressure of public opinion behind them” web/book/title.html web/book/title.html

Assembly Contained all League members Contained all League members Each country had 1 vote, though could have up to three delegates Each country had 1 vote, though could have up to three delegates Decisions were unanimous vote Decisions were unanimous vote Questions of procedure, membership of committees or election of temporary members of the Council were majority decision Questions of procedure, membership of committees or election of temporary members of the Council were majority decision New nations admitted by 2/3 vote New nations admitted by 2/3 vote

First Assembly

League Membership members members During the 1920s… During the 1920s… 14 additional countries admitted 14 additional countries admitted Hungary (1922) Hungary (1922) Germany (1926) Germany (1926) 2 countries withdrew (Brazil & Costa Rica) 2 countries withdrew (Brazil & Costa Rica)

Chinese Delegation 1920

During the 1930s… During the 1930s… 7 additional countries admitted 7 additional countries admitted Kingdom of Iraq (1932) Kingdom of Iraq (1932) Turkey admitted (1932) Turkey admitted (1932) USSR admitted (1934) USSR admitted (1934) 13 countries withdrew 13 countries withdrew Germany & Japan (1933) Germany & Japan (1933) Italy (1937) Italy (1937) 2 countries annexed 2 countries annexed Austria (1938) Austria (1938) Albania (1939) Albania (1939) 1 country expelled… USSR (1939) 1 country expelled… USSR (1939)

Council Met every three months Met every three months Began with four permanent members… Began with four permanent members… France, G. Britain, Italy, Japan France, G. Britain, Italy, Japan USA was supposed to be a permanent member; Germany was given the US seat in 1926 USA was supposed to be a permanent member; Germany was given the US seat in 1926 There were four non-permanent members, later changed to 10 non-permanent members There were four non-permanent members, later changed to 10 non-permanent members Main task was to settle international disputes Main task was to settle international disputes

Responsible for protecting minorities in different parts of Europe Responsible for protecting minorities in different parts of Europe Oversaw Mandate system Oversaw Mandate system Responsible for the Saar Governing Commission Responsible for the Saar Governing Commission Decisions were by unanimous vote Decisions were by unanimous vote

Secretariat The “civil service” of the League The “civil service” of the League Were not representatives of their home governments Were not representatives of their home governments Secretary-Generals… Secretary-Generals… from UK from UK from France from France from Ireland from Ireland

Mandate System The origin of the idea of a mandate system was in Wilson’s 5 th point of the 14 Points—”a free, open- minded, and absolutely impartial adjustment of all colonial claims…” The origin of the idea of a mandate system was in Wilson’s 5 th point of the 14 Points—”a free, open- minded, and absolutely impartial adjustment of all colonial claims…” Set up in Article 22 of the Versailles Treaty Set up in Article 22 of the Versailles Treaty Limited to former colonies of Germany and non- Turkish areas of the Ottoman Empire Limited to former colonies of Germany and non- Turkish areas of the Ottoman Empire Mandatory countries were to file annual reports with the Permanent Mandates Commission Mandatory countries were to file annual reports with the Permanent Mandates Commission There was no requirement that Mandatory countries take specific steps to help countries actually achieve self government & independence There was no requirement that Mandatory countries take specific steps to help countries actually achieve self government & independence

Mandate System

Areas felt to be closest to achieving democratic self rule were referred to as “A” Mandates… all A Mandates were in the Middle East Areas felt to be closest to achieving democratic self rule were referred to as “A” Mandates… all A Mandates were in the Middle East Areas felt to need guidance and protection of a mandatory power to learn to establish an eventual democratic nation were referred to as “B” Mandates… B Mandates were mostly in Africa Areas felt to need guidance and protection of a mandatory power to learn to establish an eventual democratic nation were referred to as “B” Mandates… B Mandates were mostly in Africa Areas felt to be better off as part of a Mandatory nation; they might become independent far in the future and were referred to as “C” Mandates… they were located in Africa & the South Pacific Areas felt to be better off as part of a Mandatory nation; they might become independent far in the future and were referred to as “C” Mandates… they were located in Africa & the South Pacific

Mandatory Countries Great Britain—Mesopotamia (later Iraq) Great Britain—Mesopotamia (later Iraq) France—Syria France—Syria Japan—South Pacific Mandate Japan—South Pacific Mandate South Africa—Southwest Africa South Africa—Southwest Africa Belgium—Rwanda & Urundi Belgium—Rwanda & Urundi Australia—German New Guinea Australia—German New Guinea New Zealand—Nauru (along w/Australia & GB) New Zealand—Nauru (along w/Australia & GB) NOTE: Italy did NOT receive a mandate NOTE: Italy did NOT receive a mandate

Enforcement of League Decisions Moral persuasion… use of diplomacy Moral persuasion… use of diplomacy Economic sanctions Economic sanctions Use of military force, but the League had no army… it had to rely on member states to provide military Use of military force, but the League had no army… it had to rely on member states to provide military

Q & A 1.What criteria was used to determine whether an area was classified as an A, B or C Mandate? 1.What criteria was used to determine whether an area was classified as an A, B or C Mandate? 2.In the Assembly, a decision had to be backed by what percentage of the vote? 2.In the Assembly, a decision had to be backed by what percentage of the vote?

Q & A 3.In what year did Germany join the League of Nations? In what year did Germany leave? 3.In what year did Germany join the League of Nations? In what year did Germany leave? 4.List two ways the League of Nations could enforce its decisions. 4.List two ways the League of Nations could enforce its decisions.

Sources Sources ument ument ument ument id%20( ) &subjects_text[]=League%20of%20Nations%201919&page=17 id%20( ) &subjects_text[]=League%20of%20Nations%201919&page=17 id%20( ) id%20( ) mandates.html mandates.html mandates.html mandates.html OF-THE-LEAGUE-OF-NATIONS.html OF-THE-LEAGUE-OF-NATIONS.html OF-THE-LEAGUE-OF-NATIONS.html OF-THE-LEAGUE-OF-NATIONS.html