Aims, structure and membership of the League
Introduction
The League of Nations was established in 1920 as part of the Treaty of Versailles, in the aftermath of the First World War. The devastation caused by the war led to a widespread desire to prevent such a conflict from happening again. There was a strong sense of optimism and hope that a new international organisation could help secure lasting peace. The League’s main aims were to promote international cooperation, encourage disarmament, improve global welfare, and resolve disputes between countries peacefully through negotiation and collective action, rather than war.
The League was structured with several key bodies. The Assembly, where all member nations had a vote, met annually to discuss important issues. The Council, which included permanent and temporary members, met more frequently to deal with urgent matters. The Permanent Secretariat handled the League’s daily operations, while specialised agencies addressed health, labour conditions, refugees, and other global concerns.
Membership was initially offered to all peace-loving nations. At its peak, the League had over 50 members, but its influence was weakened by the absence of key powers such as the United States, and the later withdrawal of countries like Japan, Germany, and Italy. Despite early optimism, these limitations affected its long-term success.
The League of Nations was established in 1920 as part of the Treaty of Versailles, in the aftermath of the First World War. The devastation caused by the war led to a widespread desire to prevent such a conflict from happening again. There was a strong sense of optimism and hope that a new international organisation could help secure lasting peace. The League’s main aims were to promote international cooperation, encourage disarmament, improve global welfare, and resolve disputes between countries peacefully through negotiation and collective action, rather than war.
The League was structured with several key bodies. The Assembly, where all member nations had a vote, met annually to discuss important issues. The Council, which included permanent and temporary members, met more frequently to deal with urgent matters. The Permanent Secretariat handled the League’s daily operations, while specialised agencies addressed health, labour conditions, refugees, and other global concerns.
Membership was initially offered to all peace-loving nations. At its peak, the League had over 50 members, but its influence was weakened by the absence of key powers such as the United States, and the later withdrawal of countries like Japan, Germany, and Italy. Despite early optimism, these limitations affected its long-term success.
Aims of the League
- To maintain world peace by preventing future wars through collective security and diplomacy.
- To encourage disarmament and reduce the threat of armed conflict.
- To promote international cooperation on economic, social, and humanitarian issues.
- To uphold the Treaty of Versailles and settle disputes between nations fairly and peacefully.
The Covenant
- Foundational Charter with 26 Articles: The Covenant of the League of Nations was the foundational part of the Treaty of Versailles (1919) and consisted of 26 articles. These outlined the principles, structure, and procedures of the League. Every country that joined the League was required to sign and accept the Covenant, making it a binding international agreement.
- Commitment to Peaceful Conflict Resolution: Member states agreed not to resort to war and to use peaceful means—such as negotiation, arbitration, or judicial settlement—to resolve international disputes. If a member resorted to war in violation of this process, it was considered an act of war against all other members.
- Principle of Collective Security (Article 10) and Disarmament: The Covenant established the idea of collective security—that an attack against one member was a concern for all. It also committed members to work toward reducing armaments, under the belief that militarism had contributed to the outbreak of World War I.
- Promotion of International Cooperation and Humanitarian Goals: The League aimed to foster international collaboration in areas such as health, labor conditions, human trafficking, and minority rights. It also took responsibility for overseeing former colonies and territories under the Mandate System, ensuring they were governed in the best interest of their people.
The Structure of the League
1. The Assembly
2. The Council
3. The Secretariat
4. The Permanent Court of International Justice
5. Specialized Agencies and Commissions
1. The Assembly
- Comprised of representatives from all member nations (one vote per country).
- Met annually to discuss global issues and policies.
- Made decisions on matters such as budget, new member admission, and amendments.
- Required unanimous agreement for most decisions, limiting its power.
2. The Council
- Main executive body with permanent and non-permanent members.
- Permanent members included Britain, France, Italy, and Japan (later expanded).
- Met more frequently than the Assembly to address urgent issues.
- Had the authority to impose sanctions and mediate disputes.
3. The Secretariat
- Administrative branch of the League, based in Geneva, Switzerland.
- Headed by the Secretary-General, overseeing daily operations.
- Prepared agendas, reports, and communications for other League bodies.
- Maintained League records and facilitated diplomatic correspondence.
4. The Permanent Court of International Justice
- Judicial body aimed at resolving disputes between nations.
- Located in The Hague, it issued advisory opinions and rulings.
- Judges were elected by the Assembly and the Council.
- Played a key role in developing international law, though rulings were not enforceable.
5. Specialized Agencies and Commissions
- Tackled specific global issues like health, labor, and disarmament.
- Examples include the Health Organization and the International Labour Organization.
- Worked independently but reported to the League.
- Played a significant role in humanitarian and technical cooperation.
Sanctions
1. Purpose of Sanctions
1. Purpose of Sanctions
- To act as a method of enforcing the League’s decisions.
- Intended to deter aggression by hurting a country’s economy.
- Showed international disapproval of a country’s actions.
- Aimed to prevent war by punishing aggressive nations economically.
- Economic sanctions: e.g., trade bans, blockades, cutting off loans.
- Financial sanctions: freezing of assets or refusal of international credit.
- Military sanctions were possible but rarely used due to lack of an army.
- Often relied on moral pressure: condemnation and international shame.
- Sanctions were often applied inconsistently and slowly.
- Countries could still trade with non-member states (e.g., USA).
- Some member states prioritized their own economic interests.
- Without military force, sanctions alone were often ineffective.
