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Chapter 1 Attempts to Make Peace and Keep Peace

League of Nations (2023)

Aims of LON

Before WWI, the countries in Europe relied on forming alliances with one another,
thinking that with the alliances they had formed, others would not dare to attack
them and therefore this would avoid wars from breaking out.
However, with the end of WWI, many nations believed that this old system of
forming alliances had failed to prevent war. Thus, they decided to try
internationalism, which is building up cooperation between countries.

The most significant means of international cooperation in the post-war world

was the League of Nations. The idea of such an organisation had
existed for some time, but it was US President Wilson who championed it.

The League of Nations was set up to resolve international disputes without going
to war. The League opened its first session in January 1920. When the League
was set up, its key aim was to resolve international
disputes without going to war.

Wilson’s vision for the League was a world government and police force.
In theory, all the major countries would join the League, bind themselves to its Covenant
and to take away or reduce weapons or armies to disarm.
 . If they had a dispute with another country, they would take it to the League and
accept its decisions.
 League members would also promise to protect one another if attacked. This
arrangement was called A system where nations agree not to attack each other
and to defend each other against any attack.
 collective security
 . If any member broke the Covenant and went to war illegally, other members
would impose economic sanctions. This meant they would stop trading with that
country. As a last resort, the League could take military action against an
aggressor nation.

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Concerns about the League of Nations / Reasons for ineffectiveness

 Not all the leaders of the major powers were convinced by Wilson's vision for the
League of Nations. Lloyd George wanted a simpler organisation that met only in
emergencies while Clemenceau was also sceptical about the League. Like Lloyd
George, he wanted his country to be free to act independently.

 Besides Britain and France, other member countries were also not convinced of
Wilson's vision. By joining the League, members were expected to disarm but
they were reluctant to as they would not be able to protect their territories and
interests if they were to do so.

 Member countries were also concerned about the impact of economic sanctions
on their economies and therefore were reluctant to stop trading with the offending
countries. Although the League could take military action against an aggressive
country as a last resort, this was difficult to do. This was because the League did
not have any army of its own.

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 How effective was the League of Nations in the 1920s?
The League of Nations in the 1920s The League of Nations in the 1920s was
was effective because it was able to: not effective because of the:
1) resolve international disputes and 1) inability to achieve disarmament
prevent war between member nations. Wilson’s vision for the League was a world
When member nations have disputes, government and police force. In theory, all
they would take it to the League and the major countries would join the League,
accept its decisions. The League would bind themselves to its Covenant and disarm.
promote discussions between the The League believed in collective security
countries involved and taking actions to where nations agreed not to attack one
resolve these conflicts. another and to defend one another against
e.g. LON resolved the dispute over any attack.
Upper Sile in 1921 by overseeing a Besides Britain and France, other member
peaceful vote and divided the region countries were also no convinced of
between Germany and Poland. Wilson’s vision especially in disarmament.
Through these actions taken by the Member countries feared that they would
League, they were able to prevent not be able to protect their territories and
disputes between member nations from interest. This led reluctance amongst
escalating into a war and thus preserving member countries to disarm especially
peace in Europe. The League’s ability to France who had been attached by Germany
convince these countries to accept their twice.
decisions also meant that the League Due to the inability to achieve disarmament
was credible and optimism about its because of the post-war attitude of distrust
effectiveness, hence the League of among nations, the League seemed as
Nations in the 1920s was effective. weak and ineffective as she failed to
convince countries to disarm.

2) improve social, economic and 2) inability to stop aggressor countries

humanitarian issues The League believed in collective security
Under the various agencies and where nations agreed not to attack one
Commissions, they attempted to tackle another and to defend one another against
medical, economic and humanitarian any attack. If any member broke the
issues. They included the High Covenant and went to war illegally, other
Commission for Refugees and the members would impose economic
Health Organisation. sanctions. However, member countries
For example, it was able to resolve the were concerned about the impact of
issues with the prisoners of war from economic sanctions and therefore reluctant
WWI and address the international to stop trading with aggressor countries.
problems related to slavery, drugs and Although the League could take military
disease. action against an aggressor country as a
Moreover an international last resort, this was difficult to do as the

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organization, they had greater League did not have any army of its own.
resources and manpower which For example, in 1920, Poland took control of
allowed them to tackle these Vilna, the Lithuanian capital. Lithuania
international problems more appealed to the League, however, she could
effectively. not make Poland withdraw. Britain and
Thus, through improving the social France were reluctant to act because
and humanitarian issues, the LON Poland was aa potential ally against
was able to help millions of refugees Germany.
and prisoners of war to return home Due to the League’s inability to enforce
as well as reduced the number of economic sanctions and stop aggressor
smuggling of labour and reduced countries which threatened international
deaths from diseases. Hence, the peace, it caused other countries to lose
League was effective as they were trust and faith in the League as she seemed
able to improve the living conditions as weak and ineffective.
and the lives of many people around
the world. .
3) Limited membership of the League
(absence of USA, USSR & Germany)
US Congress did not allow USA to join the
League and the USSR was not included
because it was communist. This meant that
two of world ‘s major powers were not part
of the League. Germany was also not
allowed to join because of its role in causing
WWI.
Without the USA in the League, economic
sanctions would be difficult to enforce as the
USA could continue to supply weapons to
aggressor countries even the League
imposed economic sanctions. This meant
that aggressor countries would not be badly
affected as they could continue to trade with
the USA which was the world’s largest
economy.
The USA also had the most powerful
militaries and her absence made it difficult
to take strong military action against
aggressor countries.
Due to limited membership without USA, the
League did not have the necessary
economic and military backup to enforce its

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economic sanctions and take military action.
This meant that offending nations could
simply ignore the League and not listen to
the League’s recommendations, hence the
League was weak and ineffective.