Part Two: League of Nations structure Flashcards
What was the League of Nations?
A group of countries that would work together to solve international issues.
What were the four aims of the League?
SITE
1. Stop war from breaking out
2. Improve working conditions
3. Tackle deadly diseases
4. Encourage disarmament
Where was the League based?
Geneva, Switzerland because Switzerland had not been involved in the war.
Why was the USA not in the League despite Wilson advocating for it?
The Senate refused as the US faced many deaths in WW1, so wanted to isolate themselves from Europe.
Why wasn’t Russia allowed to join the League?
Britain and France were suspicious of the new Russian Communist government
Why wasn’t Germany allowed in the League
All losing countries of WW1 weren’t allowed to win.
What year was the League formed?
1919
What is collective security?
countries working together to maintain peace
What was the Permanent Court of Justice?
An international court that settles international arguments
What was the Covenant?
An agreement that setup: What the League was, and what members could expect to happen under it.
What 3 ways did the League use DURING disputes
- Mitigation - gathering countries to talk through problems
- Economic sanctions- members of the League would not trade w/ warring countries
- Moral condemnation- telling someone they are in the wrong
What were the names of the five sections of the League?
The Assembly, The Council, The Permanent Court of Justice, The Secretariat, Special Commissions.
Who was in The Assembly?
Every country that was in the League (they would have representatives in The Assembly )
How often did the representatives from the Assembly meet?
Once a year on the 1st of September
What did the members of the Assembly do in these meetings?
They discussed and voted on matters
Did every country have an equal vote in The Assembly?
Yes
How would a decision/vote be passed in The Assembly?
Every decision had to be unanimous
If a decision was not unanimous in The Assembly, what would happen?
The decision would be passed to The Council
Why did The Council exist?
The Assembly met too little a year to ensure the League ran smoothly, and was too large to react quickly in an emergency. So, the Council met more frequently.
Who was in The Council?
Four permanent members: Britain, France, Italy, Japan. But, four other members were chosen to sit on The Council.
What did The Council have the power of?
A veto, which could stop a ruling with it’s vote.
What was an issue with The Permanent Court of International Justice?
The Court could only ADVISE parties involved in the arguments, and the League did not have an army, so it was difficult to force countries to agree to anything.
What was The Secretariat?
The civil service of the League, so it was in charge of organising any action that the League wanted to take.
What was Special Commissions?
Special groups put in place to tackle issues the League was worried about
What are two examples of groups in Special Commissions?
-The Health Organisation
-The Slavery Commission
What was a strength of the League which linked to peace treaties?
After WW1, the League was written into all of the peace treaties, which meant it was recognised by involved countries
What was another strength of the League?
It had a vast membership
What was another strength of the League which links to its vast membership
Moral condemnation and economic sanctions were daunting consequences for countries due to the Leagues membership
What were two issues with powerful countries not joining the League. (weaknesses of the league)
Economic sanctions were not effective as countries could still trade with some of the richest countries. This also undermined the League as a ‘global organisation’.
What was an issue with the League having no army?
They could not force people to follow their advice or rules.
What was an issue with the League’s complex structure?
It confused people and slowed action
What made decision-making slow?
Decisions had to be unanimous
What was the Locarno treaties?
Treaty between France and Germany to improve their relations. Also between Britain, Italy, Czechoslovakia and Belgium who agreed not to go to war with each other.
What was the German significance of the Locarno treaties?
The Germans had feared a French attack, so many felt this represented an end to German resentment of the Treaty. Diktat–> voluntary signing.
What year were the Locarno Treaties signed?
1925
Why were the Locarno Treaties deemed as a failure for the League?
The League were supposed to be at the forefront of international agreements, but were not involved at all.
What were two key terms of the Locarno Treaties?
Germany officially accepted the borders created by the ToV (so they lost Alscace Lorraine). Thetwo countries also agreed to settle disputes peacefully.
