League of Nations: Aims and Structure

• League of Nations, often abbreviated to LON

Idea Behind the LON

• Emerged after the terrible destruction caused by war to prevent future wars

• President Woodrow Wilson of the USA proposed key principles

• Self-determination for countries had to be applied

• Countries must collaborate

• Establishing an international orgainzation called the League of Nations

• A Covenant was formed so the League of Nations would act as a judge for disagreements between member states, with both parties agreeing to accept the decision.

• Collective security meant members would protect each other if invaded

• If a country declared war, trade would stop to cut off supplies and member states would send troops to end the conflict

Aims of the League of Nations

• Encourage countries to collaborate
• Promote disarmament in all countries
• Improve living and working conditions worldwide

Successes in 1920

• Settled border disputes arising from post-war land division
• Countries accepted League of Nations' decisions without resistance after a country invaded another
• Fought poverty
• Defeated disease and injustice through freeing slaves worldwide
• Helped prisoners of war return to their countries
• Improved working conditions for children and workers around the world

Failures of the LON

• Proved ineffective as a peacekeeping organization especially in the 1930s, which hurt its reputation
• The fact that the USA never joined was a membership failure
• Japan left the League (1919-1933)
• Italy also left (1919-1937)
• Germany's membership lasted from 1926-1933
• Russia's membership was between 1934-1939
• Depended on Britain and France, who would sometimes prioritize their own interests, leading to failures
• Unable to prevent the Second World War, its ultimate failure

Border Disputes and Resolution

• 1921 - Sweden and Finland fought for control of the Aaland Islands; the League of Nations decided the islands should be under Finland's control, which Sweden accepted
• 1925 - Greece invaded Bulgaria after troops were killed; the League of Nations ordered Greece to withdraw and compensate Bulgaria, which Greece did

Working for a Better World

• Helped 400,000 prisoners return to their countries
• The International Labour Organization limited children's working hours and was designed to improve working conditions for workers
• Defeated diseases and freed 200,000 slaves

1920s' Successes and 1930s' Failures

• The absence of the USA made cooperation difficult; so the League depended heaviliy on Britain and France, who would often put their own self-interest before the aims of the League.