• This was body which was formed as a brainchild of the then US president,
Woodrow Wilson.
• The first meeting was held in Geneva, Switzerland in 1922 and 42 countries sent
their representatives.
AIMS OF THE LEAGUE
Preventing the outbreak of another war through collective action.
Solving the world's proble'ms peacefully.
Encouraging social, economic and political cooperation among member states.
However, from the very beginning:
• Defeated powers did not go to the meeting.
• USA never became a member because its senate refused to ratify (accept) the treaty
which led to
the formation of the League. • France supported the League fully because:
she wanted to safeguard herself against the possibility of fresh German attack.
She expected the League to protect member interests.
ORGANISATION OF THE LEAGUE
1. THE ASSEMBLY
Was a large body which comprised delegates from each member state who met
annually. By 1924,
there were 50 members. Members were given same voting powers and that voting had to
be unanimous.
2. THE COUNCIL
• It was a smaller body which had to meet four times a year but also in times of crisis.
• It had four permanent members i.e. Britain, France, Italy and Japan but also four
lesser countries that were increased to six in 1922 and nine in 1926. The no-permanent
members had to work for three years.
• This body administered military and economic sanctions.
• It also supervised duties of various commissions e.g mandate commission, WHO,
Disarmament commission etc.
3. THE SECRETARIAT
• Was a body of civil servants whose headquarters was at Geneva.
• Its first Secretary- General was Sir Eric Drummond from Britain.
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• This body implemented the League's decisions, kept records of various commissions
and provided information required by the Assembly and the Council.
4. INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION
• Its first director was a French socialist Albert Thomas.
• Representatives of various government employers and employees met to find ways
of improving working conditions throughout the world.
5. THE PERMANENT COURT OF JUSTICE
• Was established in 1922 to hold international cases
• Was based at Hague, Holland and had 15 judges.
WHY THE LEAGUE FAILED TO PRESERVE PEACE
o It was crippled by the absence of major powers right away from the start e.g.
USA.
• Germany was not allowed until 1926.
• Russia was only allowed in 1933 when the League was already in decline.
• By 1939, Italy had resigned (when she attacked Abyssinia in 1939).
• Japan resigned in 1933 (when she attacked Manchuria).
• Russia was expelled in 1939 when she attacked Finland.
• There"was no real support from members especially the Big Powers. They either
bypassed or
rejected the League.
Italy, Japan and Germany became aggressive and never
accepted to be bound
by limitations imposed on them.
The authority of the League tended to be
weakened by the fact that many states seemed to prefer
signing agreements independent of the League e.g. Washington Conference (1921-
22), Locarno
Treaty (1926), Kellog-Briand Pact (1928).
The League had no effective
machinery to keep peace in the event of military aggression.
It
depended on adhoc military forces which was difficult to achieve when it affected the
Big
powers.
The League appeared to be a club for victorious powers e.g. at the
Disarmament Conference, the
League seemed to favour France.
The League had weak structures and rules e.g
decisions required unanimity which was difficult to
achieve. The League's court did not force countries to appear before it. o In certain
cases, it failed to solve political disputes because it was overruled by the
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Ambassadors
Conference which comprised the Big Powers.