The League of Nations

Woodrow Wilson
End of WW1 - 1919
Series of conferences at Versailles
14 points, fundamental principles of Treaty of Versailles
Member states agreed to respect and preserve the territorial integrity and political independence of states
Members agreed to try different methods of dispute settlement (not violence), but failing that, LoN given power to enforce settlements through sanctions
Represented idea of collective security and national self-determination

SUCCESSES

Oversaw plebiscites in Silesia and the Saar
Oversaw the Mandated Territories system (Palestine)
Settled boundaries between Poland and Germany
Settled some minor disputes - Greece and Bulgaria 1925
ILO - International Labour Organisation, set minimum standards of basic labour rights

FAILURES

WW1 settlement, unjust to come countries (Germany)
UK/France still colonies (no interest in abandoning them)
France looked outside the LoN for alliances
US returned to policy of isolationism, withdrew from international affairs and didn't join LoN
Generally failed to act against aggression - Manchurian invasion by Japanese 1931, Ethiopian invasion by Italy
Failed to oppose Hitler's remilitarisation of the Rhineland and occupation of Czechoslovakia and Austria
Proved unable to prevent the rise of economic nationalism in 1930s

	Created by Annie May Jackson almost 9 years ago

Lecture 4

International Instituions- League of Nations