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1919: Foundation of the League of Nations

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1919: Foundation of the League of Nations

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Aims:

Maintain world peace.

Encourage international cooperation.

Improve living and working conditions.

Encourage nations to disarm.

Based on the Covenant of the League

Article 8–9: Promote disarmament and national security.

Article 10–11: Protect any country that is attacked.

Article 12–15: Disputes should be handled peacefully for at least 3 months.

Article 16: Members can ask for help.

League’s Organisation

The Secretariat: Admin tasks, record keeping, led by Secretary General.

The Council: Decision-making body; permanent members (Great Powers) + rotating members.

The Assembly: One vote per member, met yearly, decisions had to be unanimous.

Collective Security

Moral Condemnation – Publicly shame aggressor.

Economic Sanctions – Cut off trade.

Military Force – Send armies (rarely used due to lack of military power).

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International Labour Organisation (ILO) (1919)

Fought for fair work conditions.

67 conventions by 1939.

Improved working hours, banned child labour in industries like carpet making.

Restricted toxic lead in paints.

USA joined in 1934, boosting influence.

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1920 – Vilna

What happened:
Vilna was claimed by Lithuania but taken over by a Polish general without clear government backing. Lithuania appealed to the League.

League response:
Condemned Poland, proposed a plebiscite (rejected), and issued the Hymans Report (also rejected).

Outcome:
Poland kept Vilna.
League Failure: Poland ignored the League and the League gave up in 1922.

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1920–21 – Aaland Islands

What happened:
The Aaland Islands (95% Swedish) were claimed by Sweden, but they officially belonged to Finland.

League response:
Investigated and ruled the islands should remain part of Finland, but granted autonomy to the Swedish population (e.g., teaching Swedish in schools).

Outcome:
Finland kept the islands, Swedes gained cultural autonomy.
League Success: Peaceful resolution accepted by both sides.

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The Commission for Refugees

Aims: look after the interests of refugees and help refugees to return to their homes or resettlement.

Established in 1921.

Led by Nansen.

Achievements:

Russia: 2 / 3 million refugees _ commission helped 425.000 return to their homes.

Turkey: it established refugee camps to prevent disease and hunger. Taught new skills to the refugees.

Nanses passport: given to refugees, allowing them to move around more easily.

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1923 – Corfu Incident (Italy vs. Greece)

What happened:
Italian general Tellini was murdered in Greece during a border mission. Mussolini invaded Corfu.

League response:
Condemned Italy but said Greece should pay compensation only if murderers were found. Mussolini rejected this.

Outcome:
Under pressure, the Conference of Ambassadors (not the League) ruled Greece must pay 50 million lire. Italy then left Corfu.

League Failure: Overruled and undermined by stronger powers. Italy bullied Greece.

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Health Organisation

Led by Ludwik Rajchman.

Prevented typhus in the USSR.

Fought leprosy and malaria.

Developed global vaccines (e.g., TB, diphtheria).

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Slavery Commission

Abolished slavery in several countries (Afghanistan, Iraq, etc.).

Freed 200,000 enslaved people.

Fought forced prostitution.

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1925 – Greece vs. Bulgaria

What happened:
Fighting broke out along the border for unclear reasons.

League response:
Ordered ceasefire, sent officials, both countries withdrew. Greece had to pay Bulgaria $218,250 in compensation.

Outcome:
League Success: Conflict resolved peacefully, both sides cooperated.
Greece criticized League’s inconsistency compared to how it treated Italy in 1923.

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Germany

It was not invited to be a member, and it wouldn’t be invited until it showed it was a peace-loving country.

It was invited to join in 1929, but Hitler decided to abandon the League in 1933 when he became Germany’s chancellor.

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It was not invited to be a member, and it wouldn’t be invited until it showed it was a peace-loving country.

It was invited to join in 1929, but Hitler decided to abandon the League in 1933 when he became Germany’s chancellor.

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Japan

An original and permanent member. It walked out of the League after invading China in 1933.

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The USSR

It was not invited to join because it was communist. It was admitted in 1934 but expired in 1939 after it invaded Finland.

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The USSR

It was not invited to join because it was communist. It was admitted in 1934 but expired in 1939 after it invaded Finland.

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Italy

An original and permanent member. Mussolini left the League after invading Abyssinia in 1937 (the League imposed an economic sanction).