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Membership of the League

Soviet (communist) Russia was not invited to join the League of Nations.

Why do you think this was the case?

Germany and the other defeated powers were barred from joining until they had shown their willingness to abide by the terms of the peace treaties.

Many people saw the League as a “winners’ club”. The main members were Britain, France, Japan and Italy

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Critiques of the membership of the League

• As part of the League’s job was to uphold the peace treaties, it often appeared to be acting against Germany and the defeated nations.

• The Council was seen as a ‘European Club’: Japan was the only non-European power

• Dominated by Britain and France who guided policy – their own interests were their priorities and they did not want to act outside of Europe unless their interests were threatened

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France and Britain…• Needed to rebuild their own economies

destroyed by war• Did not have the resources to fill the gap

left by America: felt that the US was only country with enough resources to make the League work

• Britain and France doubted how effective the League could be

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• British politicians were most interested in rebuilding trade and protecting its empire

• Did not want to be part of international police force

What kind of organisation did Britain want the

League to be?

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• France = mainly concerned with Germany

• Wanted the League to have an army – needed protection vs powerful Germany

• Did not trust Britain to send an army to help it in case of invasion

• France was willing to bypass the League (as it did in 1923: Invasion of the Ruhr)

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Organisation of the League

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The Council• Met approx. five times a year AND in cases of

emergency • Included main (permanent) members • Temporary members elected by the Assembly: served for

three-year periods• Permanent members had a veto (could overrule any

decision of the Council) • Members brought any problems/disputes between

themselves to the Council which would decide on action to be taken (facilitate negotiations between the members)

• Note: smaller countries had little say in the actions of the League

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In event that negotiations failed, the Council could use a range of powers:

1. Moral condemnation• Decide which country was the aggressor (the country

which was to blame) and tell it to stop what is was doing

2. Economic and financial sanctions • Members of the League could stop all trade with the

aggressive country

3. Military force • Armed forces of member countries could be used

against the aggressor

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4 marks, 4 minutes

What action could the League take in the event of a dispute

between member countries? [4]

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The Assembly • The League’s parliament- Each member country had a representative in the

Assembly• Met once a year • Decisions had to be unanimous (all member countries had

to agree) • Assembly could recommend action to the Council and

could vote on:

1. Admitting new members to the League

2. Appointing temporary members to the Council

3. The League’s budget

4. Other ideas proposed by the Council

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The Secretariat• Took care of administration of the

League• Kept records of meetings• Prepared reports for the League’s

agencies • Had specialist areas such as health,

disarmament and economic issues

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Permanent Court of International Justice • Meant to help settle disputes between member

countries• Based at The Hague: judges from member countries• If asked, would give a decision on a border dispute

between two countries• Gave legal advice to member countries • Could not ensure that members followed its rulings

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International Labour Organisation (ILO) • Brought together employers, governments and

workers’ representatives once a year• Aim = improve working conditions worldwide• Collected information about working conditions –

tried to persuade member countries to adopt suggestions