Dreams for the LON Flashcards
What were Woodrow Wilson’s “14 points”?
It was a list of 14 points, published by Wilson in 1918 of how to achieve a fair peace to make the world safe.
Which point was the LON?
Point 14.
Who created the idea of the LON?
Woodrow Wilson!
What was Wilson’s vision for LON?
- All Nations could join.
- They would all disarm.
- If they had a dispute w/another country, they would take it to the League and would accept the League’s outcome.
- To protect each other if invaded (known as covenant).
- If a member did break the covenant, all members would stop trade w/them and send troops if needed.
What were The Covenant (the rules)’s aims?
- To encourage nations to disarm.
- To discourage aggression from any nation.
- To encourage countries to co-operate, especially in business and trade.
- To improve the living and working conditions of people in all parts of the world.
Where was the LON based and why is that important?
Geneva, Switzerland - this is because Switzerland was a neutral country and the Red Cross was based there - showing peace and the wanting of war to end.
Had Wilson achieved his dream and give reason as to why.
NO - The US Parliament refused to allow the USA to join the League, even though the President had created it. Not every country was allowed to join, for example - Germany and Russia. There was also no order for all countries who joined the League to disarm.
League of Nations: Agencies. List the main agencies.
The Secretariat: kept records of League meetings and prepared reports for the different agencies of the League. It had special sections, covering areas such as health, disbarment and economic matters.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO): brought employers, governments and workers’ representatives together once a year. Its aims was to improve conditions of working people. It collected statistics and information about working conditions and tried to persuade others to adopt its suggestions.
The Council: a smaller group which met more often. The idea was that if any members had disputes, then it would be brought to the Council and it was sorted out through discussion - if it didn’t work out, they could use: moral condemnation, military force, economic and financial restrictions.
The Assembly: the League’s Parliament. They met once a year and decisions had to be unanimous. Every country in the League would send a representative and could recommend action and could vote on decisions.
The Permanent Court of International Justice: helped settle disputes between countries peacefully. If asked, they would give a decision on boarder disputes and gave legal advice to the Assembly and Council. However - it had NO WAY OF MAKING SURE THAT COUNTRIES FOLLOWED ITS RULINGS.
The Mandates Commission: made sure that Britain and France acted in the interest of the people in the territory that belonged to Germany and their allies, not their own interests.
The Refugees Committee: helped to return refuges to their original homes at the end of WW1.
The Slavery Commission: worked to abolish slavery around the world.
The Health Committee: attempted to deal with problems related to dangerous diseases and educating people about health and sanitation.
Failures of the LON agencies.
-The Economic and Financial Committee:
Global depression caused this commission to not be able to cope.
-International Labour Organisation:
1919. Tried to stop children under 14 from working - not adapted since many would lose too much money.
1935. Working day should be limited to 8 hours. People argued that It would cost industries too much.
Workers should pay for their holidays. Unpopular since it would be “industrial suicide”.
-The Permanent Central Opium Board:
Historians claim that key members of the League were not really dedicated to stopping sale of opium, as it made them large amounts of money.
Successes of the LON agencies.
-International Labour Organisation:
1922. Banning the use of white lead in paint as it was poisonous.
1930. Helped Greece set up social insurance. This helped people if they were unemployed because of an illness.
1928. 77 countries agreed to set up minimum wage.
Tanganyika, Africa. Slave labour was being used to build a new railway. Conditions so bad that 50% of workers died. League reduced the death rate to 4%.
Who joined AND left the LON?
Germany: Joined 1926 and left 1933.
Japan: Joined 1920 and left 1933.
Italy: Joined 1920 and left 1937.
Why did these three countries leave the LON?
Germany: Left the League as members refused to disarm and rearmed secretly.
Japan: because the League adopted a report claiming Japan was responsible for the Manchurian Crisis.
Italy: because the League had imposed economic sanctions on Italy after the Abyssinian Crisis.
What was the Disarmament Conference (1932)?
A conference held in Geneva, Switzerland. Its aim was to stop future wars and to encourage countries to disarm.
What had it accomplished by July 1932?
The prohibition of bombing of civilian populations. Limitation of size of artillery and tonnage tanks. Prohibition of chemical warfare.
What was the problem?
Whether everyone should disarm to Germany’s level or for Germany to rearm.
