the failure of the League of Nations and the other efforts of collective security Flashcards
Founding the League of Nations to promote world peace
peacemakers -> create security in EU by weakening Germany
created new states in the Baltics + Eastern Europe -> keep in check Russian ideas for expansion
League of Nations -> peacekeeping body
chief aims -> promote:
1. world peace
2. social + economic well-being of its member states
progress -> settling disputes among small countries + limitations of armaments
effectiveness of founding the League of Nations to promote world peace
not very effective
1. Germany + Russia (2 major powers) excluded
2. US (also major power) refused to join + resumed isolationist policy
lack support + military backing of these major power -> league achieve little
collective security
idea that all nations would protect one another against a common aggressor
since PPC -> different methods to establish collective security -> using League of Nations to:
1. mediate + impose sanctions
2, ratify (give consent to) international conventions
3. convene disarmament conferences
-» unite international forces in order to prevent any future wars
how did the League of Nations begin?
death + destruction from WW1 -> people look for new way to keep world peace
US president Wilson propose international organisation -> League of Nations -> solve disputes among countries in a peaceful way
if 2 members in conflict -> League decide who’s in the wrong + enforce decision
under collective security -> disarmament conferences -> signing of different treaties
the setting up of the League
end of WW1 -> US president Wilson presented “14 points” -> create better world after the war
in 14 points -> set up permanent League of Nations -> ensure world peace + security -> proposal adopted at PPC, 1919 -> established with its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland
the aims of the League
- keep world peace by dealing with disputes among nations
- safeguard the independence of countries + their new borders
- encourage nations to reduce their armaments
- improve living and working conditions for all people
organisation of the League
assembly -> 24 original member states -> member sent reps + had one vote
met at least once a year:
1. discuss any matter raised by a member
2. fix the Leagues budget
3. admit new members
4. elect non-permanent members to council
important decisions -> unanimous vote
assembly governed by council -> most important body of the League
Council’s permanent members:
1. Britain
2. France
3. Italy
4. Japan
+ 4 (later 7) non-permanent members
met on average 5 times to deal with emergencies
actions to be taken -> all nations had to agree -> every member could reject or forbid any action taken by council
international court of justice was set up in 1921 at Hague, the Netherlands
15 judges made decision on dispute settlements among countries -> only at the countries request
secretariat -> league’s civil service + took care of all administration, such as
1. preparing reports
2. keeping records
3. translating documents
many special committees set up to investigate matters concerning labour + refugees + health
what did the League of Nations assembly discuss
met at least once a year:
1. discuss any matter raised by a member
2. fix the Leagues budget
3. admit new members
4. elect non-permanent members to council
the League of Nation’s council
permanent members:
1. Britain
2. France
3. Italy
4. Japan
4 (later 7) non-permanent members
international court of justice
international court of justice was set up in 1921 at Hague, the Netherlands
15 judges made decision on dispute settlements among countries -> only at the countries request
the role of secretariat in the League of Nations
secretariat -> league’s civil service + took care of all administration, such as
1. preparing reports
2. keeping records
3. translating documents
when was the international court of justice held
1921
the powers of the league
Wilson wanted to make the League more effective in settling international disputes
1. Moral condemnation
condemn actions of an offending country + tell her to stop
2. Economic Sanctions
could tell other countries not to trade with the offending country
3. Military force
(last resort) League could use the military force of member countries
Strengths of the League
- 44 nations (including Britain, France, Italy and Japan) joined as members
- members wanted to cooperate and prevent wars
- league had some powerful weapons -> especially use of economic sanctions
way of keeping peace -> league was a step forward from the alliance systems
-» first international organisation forward by national all over the world to keep peace
weakness of the League
- US refused to join league
- other countries (germany + USSR) joined the league for only short time periods
USSR -> 1934 (communism)
Germany -> 1926 (threatened EU peace) - no US, USSR, Germany at first -> League began as a tiger without teeth
- no military force of its own -> did not have powers to enforce its decision + independent army to punish/stop aggressive nations -> rely on strength of more powerful members etc. Britain + France
- unanimous votes needed in Council and Assembly -> difficult for all members to reach unanimous vote -> obstacle