LEAGUE OF NATIONS BEFORE 1920 Flashcards
When was the LON founded?
January 1920
AIMS (5)
- Uphold Peace Treaties
- Peaceful settlement of disputes
- Disarmament
- Collective Security
Where were the headquarters? why?
Geneva. Convenience.
Less important aims (4)
- encourage trade
- improve working conditions
- co-operation on i.e. science, maths, crime
- supervise mandates
What was the “rulebook” called?
Covenant
How many articles in the covenant?
26
Most important article in covenant? what did the article talk about?
Article 10. Collective security
What was the covenant?
A “rulebook” which the LON was based on
Members in 1920s?
42 founding members
Members in 1930s?
Over 60, including USSR, Germany, Japan, Britain, France
Problems with Britain (3)
- Weakened by ww1
- more concerned with colonies/trade
- felt they wouldn’t have joined if known USA’s decision
Problems with France (3)
- weakened by ww1
- big concern= Germany
- felt league wouldn’t help her against Germany so willing to act outside league.
WHY USA NOT JOIN? (5)
- Didn’t want to be under influence of Britain and France
(americans didnt like empires) - Felt would have to act as policeman to uphold treaties
(some americans hated treaty of versailles) - Reaction to WW1
(didnt want another war)
(didn’t want to have to settle conflicts around world, especially after ww1’s casualties) - Dislike of Wilson/ Democratic party
(Wilson hadn’t listened to public)
(Public suffered for 8 years) - Economic Cost
(Didn’t want to have to enforce sanctions as didn’t want business/ trade to suffer)
What policy created by Americans after not joining LON? Define it.
Isolationism. It’s a policy which argued USA shouldn’t get involved in international disputes.
How was the League affected by USA not joining? (5)
- lost (economic) power
- economic sanctions not going to work
- made League look like European club
- lost support (at i.e. preventing conflict)
- lost its prestige as most powerful country wasn’t a member
However, what did USA still do? (2)
- USA still played a role in international relations
- Did send observers to League (at start)
Why the US, Germany and Russia not being members affected it
- less power
- less support
- the lower the number of members, the higher the risk of conflict
Why League having no army was a problem
- one less form of punishment
- couldn’t carry out threats
- could make countries more open to defying LON
Why Sanctions being the only action the LON could take was a problem.
- countries didn’t want to follow through (because didn’t want to lose trading partner)
- would not only affect aggressor but also the other countries
- ineffective
Why the LON being dominated by Britain and France was a problem.
- not in a position to use finances towards LON
- biased,, other countries think its unfair
- neither of them were too keen on enforcing LON,, if not leaders enforcing it, who?
Why its aims were a problem
- too ambitious?
- not all agreed on
- i.e. disarmament-> no one wanted to be the first to disarm
Why unanimous decisions being needed in assembly was a problem
- near impossible for all countries to agree (especially since different countries had different needs)
why the veto was a problem
- members= selfish. Wouldn’t agree as someone could always use their veto
- unfair-> if everyone agree except for 1, they use veto and action cannot be carried out.
Name 5 main branches of LON
The ASSEMBLY, COUNCIL, PERMANENT COURT OF JUSTICE, SECRETARIAT and ILO
