league of nations

• disarmament conference - LoN

  • britain and france refuse to cooperate in 1926
  • 6 yr later, numerous proposals made but none agreed
  • league's status dropped
  • germany left league
• league of nations - 10 jan 1920

  • at formation - 42 member states
  • tried to prevent future wars
  • disarmament
  • global welfare
  • collective security to prevent war
  • settling disputes between countries peacefully
• league structure - council

  • veto decisions
  • permanent members: britain, italy, france, japan
  • 49 others were temporary
• league structure - assembly

  • state selected representatives from each nation
  • annual meetingd
  • discussed/voted ab decisions
  • unanimous decisions only
  • council asked to enforce decisions made
• league structure - secretariat

  international civil service (runs league)
• league structure - permanent court of international justice

  • promoted social justice, human rights, working conditions
  • representatives met once a yr to discuss worker livelihoods
• pros of LoN

  • 42 countries - some were powerful
  • economic sanctions were threats
  • was in all post-war treaty
  • tackled socio-economic problems
  • had range of ways to settle disputes
• cons of LoN

  • US not member, undermined sanctions
  • no army
  • USSR and germany joined yrs later, undermined league
  • set up by disliked tov
  • ineffectively organised (annual meeting, unanimous vote)
  • council had veto
  • secretariat understaffed
  • conference of ambassadors overruled council decisions