1. THE LEAGUE of NATIONS

2. Why was it set up? Wilson’s liberal vision
Replace “balance of power” politics with “Collective Security”
Basic Principles re: aggression
Outlaw it
Deter it by forming a coalition of non-aggressive states
Punish it collectively

3. The League of Nations also tried to influence:
Aid
Labour Issues
Mandates
Collective Security
Human Rights
Minorities
Health Issues
The League of Nations also tried to influence:

4. How was the League organised ?
The Assembly
Met once a year
One nation, one vote
Decisions had to be unanimous
Council
Met regularly to deal with incidents
4 permanent members
(Britain, France, Japan, Italy)
4-11 non permanent members
Secretariat
Did the paperwork of the League
Prepared reports
Civil Service
Court of International Justice
Based in The Hague
Settled disputes in international law
15 judges
Commissions
Mandates
Refugees
Slavery
Health
International Labour Organisation

5. Strengths of the League of Nations
Dealing with social issues such as the improvement of living and working conditions worldwide (through ILO)
Dealing with health issues – targeted the treatment of specific diseases (e.g. leprosy)
Set up commissions that improved living conditions in poorer countries

6. Weaknesses of the League…
Certain key nations did not join (e.g. USA) – others left (Germany, 1933; Russia joined in 1934, left 1939; Japan left 1932/3; Italy left 1936)
It had no real power to enforce decisions – relied on goodwill and persuasion
No permanent military force
Economic sanctions did not work
Failed to achieve disarmament of all nations in the 1930s (one of the 4 principal aims of the League)
Decision-making was slow because both Assembly and Council required unanimous votes to take action – sometimes aggressive countries had already been successful before the League got round to action
Certain key members of the Council could veto action (e.g. Italy ( ) and Japan (1931-2)
Neither Britain nor France gave the League their full support - they were more worried about their own empires and trade, particularly during the World Economic Crisis,

7. Successes & failures in the 1920s
Work of the League’s commissions – particularly refugees, drug trafficking, slavery etc
International Labour Organisation – campaigning for improved working and pay conditions
Border disputes in Upper Silesia in 1921
Aaland Islands dispute, 1921
Greek invasion of Bulgaria in 1925
Vilna dispute in 1920
Greek-Turkish war
The French and Belgian invasion of the Ruhr in 1923
The Corfu incident in 1923
Failure of disarmament efforts in the 1920s – Washington Naval Treaty (1922), failure to have an international conference on disarmament until 1933
Failure of self-determination in the Treaties

8. Successes & failures in the 1920s
Supervised peace and disarmament negotiations
1921 Washington Treaty Conference
1928 Kellogg-Briand Pact

10. Japan in Manchuria: Watch video and take notes.

11. Italy in Abyssinia: Watch video and take notes.