League of Nations Flashcards
Who’s Idea was the League of Nations?
Woodrow Wilson (14 Points)
What were the 4 aims of the League
1) Keep world peace by dealing with disputes and conflicts.
2) Safeguard independence of nations and their frontiers.
3) To encourage nations to reduce armaments.
4) To improve living and working conditions for all people.
Where was the League based?
Geneva, Switzerland
Who was in the assembly?
All member countries (42 countries)
How often would the assembly meet?
Once a year (First Monday of September)
What did the assembly decide on?
New countries joining
Election of judges in Permanent Court of International Justice
How the League spends money
Change existing peace treaties
Admit permanent members
Who made up the Council of the League?
4 Permanent - Britain, France, Japan, Italy
4 Temporary decided yearly
What power did the Council have on the League?
Power of Veto - stop a decision by the assembly with the vote
They met frequently to discuss big decisions or large emergencies
What did the Permanent Court of International Justice do?
Set up and funded by the League, It’d settle International arguments. They gave advice to the countries, what they said wasn’t compulsory.
What did the Secretariat do in the League?
It was a civil service of the League, it was in charge of administration and organising any actions taken by the League.
What were the Special Commissions?
International Labour Organisation
Disarmament Commission
Health Organisation
Slavery Commission
Commission of Refugees
Permanent Central Opium Board
What did the International Labour Organisation (ILO) do?
To bring about the League’s aims of Improving working conditions around the world. They tried to get members to adopt the minimum standards they decided on yearly.
What were the strengths of the League?
- Vast Membership
- As there were so many members: Economic sanctions and Moral Condemnation were severe punishments for many countries
- All nations recognised the organisation thanks to the Treaty of Versailles
What were the weaknesses of the League?
- Missing major countries: US, USSR, Germany.
- No army (no force)
- Complicated structure causing confusion
- Decisions had to be unanimous meaning decisions took longer
What sanctions were used against countries?
Moral Condemnation
Economic Sanctions
Military Force
What did Economic Sanctions mean for countries?
All countries in the League would stop trade with the aggressor.
What did Moral Condemnation mean for Countries
Countries would put pressure on aggressor to force them into stopping the conflict and accepting the League’s decisions.
What did military sanctions mean for countries?
All countries in the League would put forward an army which would act against the aggressor.
What did ‘collective security’ mean?
The idea that if all countries worked together they could keep the peace and that the interests of every nation were looked after
What did the Permanent Court of International Justice do?
made laws so that every country could follow them meaning there would be less disagreeing
What did the Covenant mean?
It set out how the League would deal with aggression
