Chapter 1: Impact of World War One in Europe, Part III

The League of Nations (LON)

Topic Inquiry Question: “What was the main reason for the weakness of the LON?”

What are the key word here?

3Crisis and Conflict: Establishing Peace Copyright 2006

What does this cartoon tell you about the LON?

President Wilson

Dove

Olive Branch

Background

LON established during Paris Peace Conference to promote international cooperation – borne out of President Wilson’s Fourteen Points

Aims

Need to maintain peace through ‘collective security’ Definition: countries would not attack

each other and would also defend one another in the event of any attack

Main Aims

Collective Security If one state attacks another, the member

states of the League would act together collectively to stop the aggressor

In contrast to individual security

Main Aims

Disarmament Definition: the reduction of military

strength as a way to preserve peace

Main Aims

Disarmament Rationale

▪ Tensions caused by the arms race was partly to blame for the outbreak of World War One

▪ Disarmament = prevent arms race = prevent war!

TOV imposed armament restrictions on Germany and its allies

Allied Powers were required to disarm

Structure of LON

General Assembly Parliament of all League Members Met once a year

Structure of LON Council

4 Permanent members - Britain, France, Italy, Japan

4 non-permanent members (3-year terms)

Lloyd George

Millerand

Nitti

Matsui

Structure of LON

Secretariat Organised LON Prepared meeting plans and published

meeting records

Structure of LON

Agencies/Commissions Dealt with special issues with the aim of

preventing war and improving lives▪ E.g. Disarmament Commission

Structure of LON

Conference of Ambassadors Informal meetings of more important

LON members

Measures of Peace-Keeping

Video

Measures of Peace-Keeping

Moral Persuasion Members of the LON would publicly

condemn the wrongdoings of a nation Aimed to pressure the offending nation

to stop its aggressive actions

Measures of Peace-Keeping

Arbitration LON to act as a ‘referee’ by calling for

problems to be discussed peacefully before the Assembly

LON could also issue warnings if offending nation didn’t comply with Assembly’s decision

Measures of Peace-Keeping

Disarmament LON to organise disarmament

conference to push for disarmament for each nation

Measures of Peace-Keeping

Economic Sanctions Prevent the exchange of food, goods or

supplies between League members and the offending nation

Measures of Peace-Keeping

Military Sanctions LON could impose arms embargo – cut

off military supplies to offending nation LON could carry out military intervention

Jigsaw Activity

Refer to page 21 in the Textbook Look at the various crises in the 1920s

and decide whether they were managed successfully by the LON

Review

What were the 2 main aims of the LON?

What were the 5 measures employed to keep the peace?