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The creation and successes of the League, 1919 to 29
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After the First World War, the League of Nations was set up to keep the peace. In the 1920s it had several successes.
Creation
The League was the idea of US President Woodrow Wilson. Its rules, the Covenant, were part of the peace treaties of 1919.
But the USA never joined.
Its headquarters were in Geneva.
But the USA never joined.
Its headquarters were in Geneva.
Structure
Assembly: all members; met once a year.
Council: met more often; permanent members included Britain, France, Italy and Japan.
Secretariat: the civil service that ran the League's work.
Committees such as the Refugee Committee and Drugs Committee did humanitarian work.
Council: met more often; permanent members included Britain, France, Italy and Japan.
Secretariat: the civil service that ran the League's work.
Committees such as the Refugee Committee and Drugs Committee did humanitarian work.
Successes in the 1920s
Aaland Islands (1920 to 21): dispute between Sweden and Finland; the League gave them to Finland, and Sweden accepted.
Upper Silesia (1921): after a vote, the area was divided between Germany and Poland.
Greek-Bulgarian dispute (1925): the League ordered Greece to withdraw, and it did.
The Refugee Committee helped hundreds of thousands of refugees and prisoners of war return home.
Upper Silesia (1921): after a vote, the area was divided between Germany and Poland.
Greek-Bulgarian dispute (1925): the League ordered Greece to withdraw, and it did.
The Refugee Committee helped hundreds of thousands of refugees and prisoners of war return home.
Why did the League succeed in the Greek-Bulgarian dispute of 1925?
- The countries involved were small powers.
- The League condemned Greece and ordered it to withdraw.
- Greece obeyed and paid compensation.
Answer: Small countries could be persuaded to obey the League.
Wilson's idea, set out in the Covenant (1919), but the USA never joined. Structure: Assembly, Council, Secretariat, committees. Successes: Aaland Islands (1921), Upper Silesia (1921), Greek-Bulgarian dispute (1925), refugee and drugs work.
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