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LEAGUE OF NATIONS
CONTEXT:
Where he called for a “general association of nations…formed under specific covenants for the purpose of affording mutual
guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity to great and small states alike.”
1.
DIFFERING VIEWS ON THE
OPERATION OF THE LEAGUE
“
authorize the League to take “any
action…to safeguard the peace”
HOW SHOULD IT OPERATE?
A world parliament
where A simple A strong League
representatives organisation that capable of enforcing
would meet regularly would meet during decisions with its
to decide on matter emergencies own army
which affected all of
them
THE PROS AND CONS OF EACH VERSION:
◆ Britain’s simpler idea would mean that the League would merely
be dealing with emergencies rather than working on preventing
them from of occurring in the first place.
◆ Most major powers joined the ◆ There was wide support for
League in the hopes of the idea of ‘collective
deterring another conflict, security’
totalling 58 nations by the ◆ Established committees to
1930s improve human rights
◆ To enforce its will, it could offer causes
arbitration through the Court of ◆ 4 powerful permanent
International Justice members
◆ The League could apply trade ◆ Equality of voting power
sanctions against countries and voice
that went to war
CASE STUDY: GREEK-BULGARIAN WAR 1925
◆ Certain key nations did not join (e.g. USA) – ◆ Decision-making was slow because
others left (Germany, 1933; Russia joined in both the League Assembly and Council
1934, left 1939; Japan left 1932/3; Italy left required unanimous votes to take
1936) action – in some cases, aggressive
◆ No permanent military force countries had already been successful
◆ Economic sanctions (a staple of the League in their aims before the League could
response) were not highly effective without act
the support of the USA ◆ The United States and other key
◆ The League failed to achieve disarmament of states withheld their support/refused
all nations in the 1930s (one of the 4 principal to join
aims of the League) ◆ The League relied on goodwill and
◆ Key members (permanent members) of the persuasion to enforce its decisions
Council could veto action (e.g. Italy (1935-6 ◆ Many countries saw the League as a
(Abyssinia crisis)) and Japan (1931-2 ‘winners’ club (winners of World War
(Manchuria crisis)) to benefit themselves One)
◆ Over-ambitious aims
CASE STUDY: MANCHURIAN CRISIS 1931 - 1933