History - League of Nations Flashcards
How many members did it initially hold?
42
How long did the LON last?
26 years - 1919-1945
How many members did the LON have by the 1930’s
59
What were the 4 main aims?
- To keep peace by collective security. - if a country is attacked, all other members of the league must work together to attack and defeat the aggressor.
- To encourage disarmament. - Reduce the military capabilities of countries.
- To encourage countries to co-operate with each other. - Through trade, and economic prosperity (everyone has enough money so no war)
- To improve living and working conditions worldwide. - Create a better world, especially for the WW1 refugees.
What were the 3 ways to settle disputes?
- Moral condemnation - warning
- Economic sanctions - all LON countries stop trade and contact with the Aggressor country
- Military - Army sent in to attack, troops from every country
What was the job of the secretariat?
They kept records of all the meetings and prepared reports.
What did the assembly do?
They recommended ideas to the council. Could also vote on admitting more new member, as well as temporary members to the council and they controlled the budget of the league.
How often did the assembly meet?
Once a year
How often did the council meet?
5 times a year, and in emergancies
What did the council do?
They settled disputes through the 3 type of sanctions.
Who were the 4 permanent members?
Japan, Italy, France and Britain. Each had a vito power.
Who else was part of the council?
Between 4-9 temporary members, set for a 3 year trial
What did the international court of justice do?
Helped to settle small disputes and provided legal support to the council and assembly
What were the other smaller agencies?
Slavery - worked to abolish slavery
Heath- helped tackle disease and improve sanitation
Refugee committee - helped return WW1 refugees home
What were the LON’s weaknesses?
- the council (especially the 4 permanent members) had lots of power, making them aggressive from power
- Actions were slow as decisions had to be unanimous, so in emergencies, relief and help could take up to years.
- They didn’t have their own army, so had to borrow from countries in the league. Wasn’t fair as the larger countries had to give more troops, and they often refused because they needed the troops for their country
- America was not part of the LON, meaning sanctions, especially economic, were not as effective as countries could trade with the U.S. They also missed out on the U.S. Army and supplies
- economic sanctions were not liked, as it would sometimes mean a country in the LON would have to stop trade with their main partner, hindering the country.