The League of Nations

Encourage co-operation Stop aggression Disarmament Improve social conditions AIMS

Membership l 42 members - by 1930’s 59 l Defeated countries could not join e.g. Germany l Russia excluded because communist l USA did not join - isolation from world affairs l A club for the victorious?

Structure The Assembly Each country one vote The Council Met several times a year and in emergencies 5 permanent members Each had right to veto any idea The Secretariat Kept records - civil service Permanent court of International Justice Based at The Hague Settle disputes peacefully No power of enforcement

Powers of the League l If a country ignored the ruling of the League it could: l Put pressure on l Refuse to trade - sanctions l Send in troops - member countries join together

Strengths of the League l Many countries supported it in early days - they wanted peace l Had some early successes: l Settled some land disputes in 1920’s l Helped refugees, dealt with spread of disease, fought for better conditions for people

Weaknesses of League l USA didn’t join l No real power - relied on goodwill and persuasion l No permanent army l Disarmament not realistic l Structure a disaster - everyone had to agree before any action taken

How successful was the League? l 1920s…period of peace and hope??? Locarno Treaties 1925 Kellogg-Briand Pact 1928

Locarno Treaties l Series of 7 agreements signed in l Focussed on security in Western Europe. l Signed by Belgium, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Britain, Italy and Poland. l Seen as a return to normal relations with Germany, after the Treaty of Versailles.

The details l Guaranteed the common boundaries of France, Germany and Belgium. l Germany, France and Belgium promised not to attack each other, while Britain and Italy acted as guarantors. l Made the Rhineland a neutral zone. l Treaties were to operate within the framework of the League of Nations. Opened the door for Germany to join the League in 1926.

How was it viewed? l Read handout and answer questions 1-4 on page 24.

Kellogg-Briand Pact 1928 l Named after the authors: French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aristide Briand and U.S. Secretary of State, Frank Kellogg. l Signatories included USA, Germany, Belgium, Great Britain, Italy, Poland and Japan.

The aim of the pact l Has only 3 articles What is the ultimate aim of the Kellogg-Briand Pact? What provision does it make to deal with countries who break the pact?

The details l “renunciation of war as an instrument of national policy” l Solution and settlement of disputes and conflicts must only be undertaken by pacific means. l “any signatory power which shall hereafter…resort to war should be denied the benefits furnished by this Treaty.” l This pact is still a binding treaty under international law.

Legacy l First major test was when Japan invaded Manchuria in l Japan was a signatory of the pact. l League of Nations and USA took no action. l Clear that there was no way to enforce the pact or sanction those who broke it. l Statement of the idealism expressed by advocates for peace in the interwar period. l Did little to prevent World War II or any other conflicts.

Analysis l How do these agreements reflect on the success of the League of Nations? Can they be seen as tools to aid the League of Nations in its quest for peace? Or…. Do they demonstrate a lack of faith in the League, hence, the need for alternative security arrangements?