The League of Nations
The League of Nations was an international organization that attempted to achieve disarmament, prevent war, settle disputes through diplomacy, and improve global welfare. Its goal was to create peace among nations and to ensure the sanctity of treaties and the right of self-determination of peoples.
Formation and Membership
The organization was created in 1919 after the conclusion of World War I. It was founded in response to President Woodrow Wilson's call for a new international body that would protect the rights of the United States and others.During the first year of operation, it had 42 founding members, including Britain and France. Several other countries joined in the following years, but some would only remain a member for a short time. For example, the Soviet Union was admitted in 1934 but was expelled in 1939 because of its invasion of Finland.
Lack of Military Power
Its success depended on its membership, which was dominated by the so-called Great Powers. However, it was difficult to assemble an army for the League because many of the member states were self-interested and tended to protect their own interests. The League therefore lacked an armed force and relied on the Great Powers to enforce its resolutions.
Some Successes and Key Documents
As a result of this, the League never achieved its goals. It did have some successes, though, in particular in the areas of disarmament and the prevention of war.A key part of the League's founding documents was the Covenant, which established its constitutional basis and laid out its basic principles. It called for a general reduction of armaments and declared that no member should "go to war unless he has submitted himself to arbitration or judicial inquiry."Articles 2-5 defined the League's main organs, including the Assembly and the Council. These bodies, which were composed of representatives from all the member states, supervised the work of the rest of the League's principal institutions and agencies.
The Council and Commissions
The Council consisted of four permanent members (Britain, France, Italy, and Japan) and four others elected by the Assembly every three years. It was responsible for the League's policy and the day-to-day activities of the organization.In addition to the Council, the League had several commissions and agencies that dealt with specific problems and aimed to solve them through international cooperation. These included the Disarmament Commission, the Health Organization, the International Labor Organization, and the Mandates Commission.
Growing Influence and Use
By the middle of the 1920s, most governments were using the League as a focal point for their foreign policy, and diplomats from all of them attended meetings at Geneva. During this period, several other nations, such as Russia and the United States, also became more interested in the League's work.Some of these countries also began to use its machinery as a tool to resolve their differences with other countries, and this led to the League's growth. In the United Kingdom, for instance, Lloyd George and his private secretary Philip Kerr played a major role in developing and implementing the League's policies.
