League of Nations IGCSE

• Aims of the League


  To promote international co-operation and to achieve international peace and security.

  AND to promote open, just and honourable relations between nations.

  And to uphold national self-determination
• Woodrow Wilson and the League


  wanted the League to be like a world parliament where representatives of all nations could meet together regularly to decide on matters that affected them all.
• Covenant


  a set of 26 Articles or rules which all members of the League agreed to follow.
• Idealism


  A theory of international relations that focuses on the hope the nations will act together to solve international problems and promote peace.
• USA Congress and the L Of N


  President Wilson needed the support of the Congress to accept the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations.
• 4 Reasons for USA Rejection

  -German immigrants didn't want USA to be part of L

  -Isolationism, wanted USA to stay out of European affairs, didn't want to send troops and settle disputes

  -Economic costs of joining

  -Anti-British and Anti-French Americans against idea of colonies and empires.
• Countries Rejected


  - USSR (Russia), Germany (1919-1926), USA
• Aims of the League


  - to discourage aggression from any nation

  - to encourage countries to co-operate, especially in business and trade

  - to encourage nations to disarm

  - to improve the living and working conditions of people in all parts of the world
• Membership into the League


  -Vittorio Orlando(Prime minster of Italy) -George Clemenceau(Prime minster of France) -David Llogo George(Prime minster of Britain) -Woodrow Wilson(Prime minster of USA)
• Geneva, Switzerland


  headquarters of the League
• The Council


  Met about five times a year and in cases of emergency. Included permanent members and temporary members. Each permanent member had veto. If any disputes arose between members, brought problem to Council and sorted out through discussion.
• Permanent Members


  Britain, France, Italy, Japan
• Temporary Members


  elected by Assembly for 3 year periods
• Veto


  (n.) the power to forbid or prevent; (v.) to prohibit, reject
• Unanimous


  In complete agreement
• Unanimous votes and the Council


  decisions made by the Assembly had to be unanimous
• Moral condemnation


  Decide which country was the aggressor
• moral condemnation and the council

  council could condemn the aggressor's action and tell it to stop
• economic and finical sanctions and the council


  members of the League could refuse to trade with the aggressor
• sanctions


  rewards or punishments that encourage conformity
• military force and the council


  armed forces of member countries could be used against an aggressor
• collective security


  An Article 10 provision of the League charter, it stated that if one country was involved in a confrontation, other nations would support it. Collective security is agreements between countries for mutual defense and to discourage aggression.
• veto power


  a permanent member of the League could stop the Council acting even if all other members agreed
• the assembly


  League's Parliament. every country in League sent representative to Assembly
• actions of the assembly


  recommend action to Council and vote on:

  -admitting new members to the League

  -appointing temporary members of the Council

  -budget of the League

  -other ides put forward by the Council
• permanent court of international justice

  - helps settle disputes peacefully

  - Hague, Netherlands

  - made up of many judges from members/countries

  made decisions and gave legal advices to assembly or council
• PCIJ - Ability to enforce rules


  - couldn't make sure their rules were followed

  - Unlike other courts, they couldn't carry out laws within other countries

  - NOT ENOUGH POWER
• The Secretariat


  - Was sort of a civil service, acting as the admin. Kept records of meetings
• List of Commissions


  - The Mandates Commission

  - The refugees committees

  - The slavery Commission

  - The Health Committee
• Mandate commission


  made sure that Britain/France were acting for the mandates interests and not their own.
• Refugee Committee


  -sent refugees and former prisoner of war back home

  -about 400, 000

  
• Slavery Commission


  abolished slavery
• Health Committee


  - dealt with dangerous diseases

  - educated people about health and hygene
• League of the 1920s


  - many people in Europe wanted peace -League of Nation help to keep peace -1920, some success
• Vilna, Lithuania- History


  - the first test for the League

  - Vilna: capital of Lithuania (a new state)

  - population = Polish (largely)

  - Poland invaded

  - French didn't want to upset Poland (powerful ally against Germany)

  - Britain didn't want to act alone and send their troops far away
• Vilna, Lithuania- Result


  - NOT ACTION MADE

  - Poland kept Vilna

  - FAILURE
• Upper Silesia - History

  - Upper Silesia = industrial region (iron and steel)

  - between Germany and Poland

  - population of both - both wanted land and population back

  - League ran a plebiscite (vote)

  - sent troops to control situation
• Upper Silesia- Result


  - The industrial areas voted for Germany

  - The rural areas voted for Poland

  - Thus, the region was divided according to these votes

  - Railway links and barriers were placed, along with supply arrangements

  - SUCCEEDED. (SUCCESS)
• Aaland Islands, 1921 History


  - Sweden and Finland both wanted the island
• Aaland Islands - Result


  - League decided it should be given to Finland

  - countries accepted

  - SUCCESS