League of Nations

The League of Nations started the end of World War One. It was set up to prevent war in the future. President Woodrow Wilson of U.S.A. suggested creating an international organization whose purpose was to keep world peace. It would sort out arguments between countries. It was called the League of Nations. BUT the United States never joined the League of Nations. Others joined but later left the organization: Japan (1933), Italy (1937). Germany was only a member from 1926 to 1933, Soviet Union was only a member from 1934 to 1940.

The League of Nations had no armed forces to support it. It had to rely on boycotts (sanctions) to control the behaviour of member states. If an argument between countries occurred, the League, could do three things - these were known as its sanctions: It could ask the countries to sit down and discuss the problem in a peaceful manner. This would be done in the League’s Assembly. If a country was seen to be in the wrong the League could introduce verbal sanctions – saying that country should leave the other country alone or face the consequences.

If the countries in dispute did not listen to the League, it could introduce economic sanctions. The League could order League members not to do any trade with the aggressive country.

If this failed, the League could introduce physical sanctions If this failed, the League could introduce physical sanctions. This meant that military force would be used to enforce the the League’s decision. However, the League had no army – (unlike the United Nations nowadays). Therefore, it could not carry out any threats. Any country defying its authority was aware of this weakness.

The League also had other weaknesses : America, (whose president, Woodrow Wilson, had dreamt up the idea of the League) refused to join the League. As America was the world’s most powerful nation, this was a serious blow. America’s refusal to join the League, fitted in with her desire to have an isolationist policy throughout the world.

Germany was not allowed to join the League in 1919. As Germany had started the war, (according to the Treaty of Versailles), one of the punishments was that she could not join. Russia was also not allowed to join as in 1917 she had a revolution and communists took control. This scared Western Europe.

The League was a good idea - to end war for good. Therefore, three of the world’s most powerful nations (potentially for Russia and Germany) played no part in supporting the League. The two most powerful members (Britain and France) did not want to get involved in disputes which did not affect Western Europe (both had suffered financially and militarily during WWI). The League was a good idea - to end war for good. However, if an aggressive country ignored the League’s verbal warnings, all the League could do was enforce economic sanctions and hope that these worked.

The League experienced success in: The Aaland Islands (1921) These islands are near enough equal distant between Finland and Sweden. They had traditionally belonged to Finland but most of the islanders wanted to be governed by Sweden. The League decided should remain with Finland. Both countries accepted the decision.

Turkey (1923) The League failed to stop a bloody war in Turkey but it did help the ordinary people affected by this war. There were 1,400,000 refugees from this war. Typhoid and cholera were everywhere. The League sent doctors from the Health Organisation to stop the spread of disease and it spent money on building farms, homes etc for the refugees. A member of the League called this work "the greatest work of mercy which mankind has undertaken.“

Greece and Bulgaria (1925) Both these countries shared a border. In 1925, sentries patrolling this border fired on one another and a Greek soldier was killed. As a result the Greek army invaded Bulgaria. The Bulgarians asked the League for help and the League ordered both armies to stop fighting and the Greeks to pull out of Bulgaria. The League decided Greece was to blame and fined her £45,000. Both nations accepted the decision.

The social successes of the League of Nations Teams were sent to the Third World to dig fresh water wells. The Health Organisation started a campaign to wipe out leprosy. Work was done in Third World countries to improve the status of women and tackle child slave labour. Drug addiction and drug smuggling were also attacked.  The greatest success the League had with these social issues, was to show the world that these problems did exist. These social problems may have continued but the fact that they were actively investigated by the League must be viewed as a success.

Successes of the League of Nations Popular with many people Did settle some disputes Promoted co-operation between countries Helped more than 400,000 prisoners of war return home. Helped more than 1.5 million refugees in Europe. International Health Organisation helped improve knowledge of killer diseases like malaria. Slavery made illegal world wide in 1927 International Labour Organisation campaigned for better working conditions It wrote an international agreement on the hours children could work.

The failures of the League of Nations Article 11 of the League’s Covenant stated: "Any war or threat of war is a matter of concern to the whole League and the League shall take action that may safe guard peace.“

War between Russia and Poland (1920 to 1921) In 1920, Poland invaded land held by the Russians. By 1921, the Russians had no choice but to sign the Treaty of Riga which handed over land to Poland. This doubled the size of Poland. The League did nothing. Russia by 1919 was communist and this was greatly feared by the West.

France and the Ruhr, 1923 In January 1923 France occupied the Ruhr area of Germany. When the League of Nations told France to withdraw from this land, the government of France threatened to withdraw from the organization. As a result, the League of Nations decided to do nothing.

Italy and Albania (1923) (The Corfu Crisis) The border between Italy and Albania was not clear. This was a problem between both countries. In 1923, a mixed nationality survey team was sent out to settle the issue. Whilst travelling to the area, Italians in the team became separated. The five Italians were shot by gunmen. Italy accused Greece of planning the whole incident and demanded payment of a large fine. Greece refused to pay up. In response, Italy sent its navy to the Greek island of Corfu and bombed the coast. Greece asked the League to help but Italy persuaded the League, to fine Greece 50 million lire. 

Weaknesses of the League The League did not include all nations as members. For much of the 1920s, Britain and France dominated the League; neither nation agreed about what the League should do. One of the League's main aims was to oversee disarmament but it failed in this. The League failed in its aim to resolve disputes between countries peacefully.

In 1946 the responsibilities of the League of Nations was handed over to the United Nations. Many of the groups that work for the United Nations now, grew out of what was established by the League.

What do you think was the main reason why the League of Nations failed?

How fully does the source show the weaknesses of the League of Nations?