ESA MUN 2021

Exploring Global ‘What If’ Scenarios

STUDY GUIDE

Agenda: What if the League of Nations had not failed?

Committee: League of Nations

Freeze Date: September 1939

 Table of Content

Sr. No. Topic

1 Letter from the EB

2 Introduction

3 Aims & Objectives

4 LON: Working, Achievements & Failures

5 The Dissolving of Treaty

6 Conclusion

7 QARMA

8 Bibliography & Additional Links for Reference

 1. Letter from the EB

Greetings Delegates!

The Executive Board of the League of Nations welcomes you to the ESA MUN
2021 ‘What If’ Scenarios!

Congratulations on choosing a committee that thinks ahead of the world. We want

to thank you for the time and efforts that you will put into this committee.

This guide will give you a brief insight into the treaty of an intergovernmental
organization formed after World War I, its principal mission, the strategies
undertaken to combat disputes between countries, and the rationality of its
termination.

This committee is yours, and the decisions it takes will be yours as well. Remember
to have fun and, at the same time, be the best diplomat version of yourself.

We are looking forward to a great, insightful debate!

Regards,
Executive Board
LON
 2. Introduction

The League of Nations commenced on January 10, 1920, as an organization established

to resolve disputes among countries to acquire world peace. It was indeed the first
intergovernmental organization that laid its foundation in the reminiscence of World
War I. To steer clear of further horrifying war by improvising global welfare was
substantially the primary notion of this treaty. From the time of its establishment, a total
of 63 countries joined the League of Nations. It operated from its headquarter in Geneva,
Switzerland.

The background history for the cause of the creation of the League was adapted from
the concept based on the balance of power, i.e., no one nation can be powerful enough
to overwhelm another country (that failed to prove its worth in the Metternich System
after the defeat of Napoleon in the Battle of Waterloo). This event led to the rise of
another idea of collective security and equality of nations, i.e., all for one and one for all,
known as the basic principle of creation of the League.

The roots go back to when the Paris Peace Conference was held, where the victorious
countries met the defeated countries at the end of World War I and signed a covenant.
The upshot of the meeting was to impose a treaty on the defeated nations. Gulping in
the humiliation, the defeated nation unwillingly signed and agreed to the covenant of
the League of Nations. For example, the Treaty of Versailles was imposed on Germany
post its defeat.

Woodrow Wilson, the then President of the United States, drew the idea of its origin
through his infamous Fourteen Points speech. Wilson, being an idealist, had a vision of
world peace and later modified his thought that came into existence as the League of
Nations. Though the United States proposed the idea of the treaty, it was directly never
the part of it.

Henry Cabot Lodge, the Republican Congressman in Massachusetts, opposed this idea,
resulting in a battle against the organization. Wilson, in retaliation, decided to talk
Americans into by boarding a 27-day train journey. Later his tour was lessened due to
arising health issues. League being in existence failed to stand true to its motive as a
devastating war erupted. Later its powers were transferred to an organization called the
United Nations.
 3. Aim & Objectives

The LON primarily aimed to shield the nations, prevent them from entangling in
disputes, and propose effective measures to lead the world towards a better tomorrow.
Their primary concerns were:
1. To promote peaceful coexistence throughout the world to check wars.

2. To promote conserving of resources and prevent loss of human life.

3. To improvise the working conditions of the people all over the nations was more

pronounced after World War I. It aimed to protect the world from calamities and
diseases.
4. Encourage the nations to cooperate in terms of business and trade.

5. To build united and strong nations in discouraging using force in resolving

disputes.
 4. Workings, Achievements & Failures

While the League suffered a constant turmoil of conflicts, it presented a positive side by
resolving the disagreements among the nations, such as settling the Aland Islands
dispute between Sweden and Finland, Upper Silesia between Poland and Germany, and
Iraq and Turkey over Mosul. However, the aggrieved nations refused to respect the
League and stood back later.

When the League came into force, various agencies were branched to check the purpose
of its working. Some of the agencies were as follows:

1) The Council
It comprised of temporary and permanent members that held a meeting five times a
year. The permanent members were the powerful nations, and the temporary members
were the countries that voted every five-five years.

2) The Assembly
They met once a year and had all the heads of the states.

3) The Secretariat
They were in charge of all the day-to-day running activities and responsibilities.

4) Permanent Court of International Justice

At the time of its establishment,t it was referred to as 'World Court'. Its purpose was to
dissolve the disputes among the nations that were the members of the League, directed
by the rules of international law.

5) Disarmament Commission
This commission was formed to balance and minimize the limit of armaments and
armed forces. It failed significantly, as Germany raised the issue by demanding
armaments equal to other nations.
6) International Labour Organisation
It is known for its contribution to uplifting labor conditions and living standards. The
ILO was also awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1969.

7) Mandates Commission
The Mandates Commission allotted the League authority to manage the colonial
possessions of the defeated countries. Since the League was behind in military
experience and did not have the administration to manage the territories, it transferred
the controls back to the victorious nations.

8) International Commission on Intellectual Cooperation

This commission essentially focused on encouraging international exchanges among
scientists, educators, artists, and other intellectuals.

9) Permanent Central Opium Board

This agency mainly regulated the narcotics activities and transport of contraband goods.

10) Commission of Refugees

The Commission of Refugees was responsible for granting shelter to the victims of war.

11) Slavery Commission

The slavery Commission had forbidden slavery all across the world.

Other accomplishments of the League of Nations were

• It successfully influenced Greece to move out of Bulgaria.
• Initiated measures to wipe out leprosy and malaria.
• Rescued Turkish refugees.
• Aided the Austrian government during bankruptcy.

However, the League had its limitations. Nations like Poland, Russia, Italy, and Japan
challenged their work by creating conflicts that made League helpless.
• Poland invaded Vilna and refused the settlement. Also, Britain and France
opposed the League on this matter, which acted as icing on the cake for Poland
until World War II came to pass.
• Likewise, Russia, a non-member, contempt the League and attacked a port in
Persia. Although Persia was denied help later by the League, contradicting its
ideology.
• Italy led a battle against Ethiopia, which the League censured but was denied
the support as France and Britain conspired to favor Italy.
• Japan annihilated Manchuria, a part of China, in 1932. League failed to convince
Japan to move out. Upon interruption, Japan revoked its membership.
• During the dictatorship of Hitler, Germany withdrew from the League.
• The League lacked the support of its most proficient and authoritative members,
Britain and France. This series of events can be considered the foundation of its
failure.

5. The Dissolving of Treaty

The League of Nations was in existence until April 18, 1946. Working of the League
demanded unanimity, which became the cause of its devastating failure. When the
Great Depression happened, the nations became territorially aggressive and paid no
attention to the League. Soon many countries withdrew themselves from the League.

When the outbreak of World War II took place, powers of the League were
overthrown by the United Nations after two decades of its establishment. Few of the
agencies were also affiliated with the UN, which is in effect till present.

• The critical difference is that the UN was created during an ongoing war while
the League of Nations was made at the end.
• The obligations of the UN were dignified in comparison with the League of
Nations.
• The UN was the outcome of 50 supportive nations. As opposed, the League
was empowered precisely by the influential nations from World War I.
• The UN had the power of its own irrespective of its unanimity. It was
comparatively independent in regards to its decisions.

The purpose of LON crashed when World War II broke out. One such reason for
dissolving the League was it was mutually considered incompetent as an independent
working body.

The United States was a potent and supportive member of the UN. Hence, the UN
emerged as a dominant organization in contrast to the League of Nations. Yet both
the organization shared the same purpose that was to encourage global welfare and
prevent wars.

6. Conclusion
In a nutshell, the cause of the creation of the League stood in vain when World War II
was around the corner. The historians firmly believe that the United States was an
integral nation for international relations after World War I. And denying participation
could be one of the possible causes for its decline.

The League also lacked military experience and did not possess the authority to
supervise colonial territories. At some point in time, League became a tool in the hands
of the makers of France and Britain when their support was secretly drowned out from
the League. Despite its drawbacks, the League of Nations was successful in many ways,
be it combating a disease or settling disputes. The unbiased decisions the organization
made were fulfilling to some parties and unsatisfying to others. Nevertheless, the
organization continued to work to the bone to accomplish its aim. Though the League
failed to stand to its purpose, the organization was one of a kind.

6. Questions A Resolution Must Answer

➢ What are the different strategies that can be revisited and rectified?
➢ If the United States had joined the treaty, would the consequences be the same?
➢ What strategy could have been avoided in favor of the League of Nations?
➢ If the League had not transferred its powers to the UN, would the League be
dominant in the present?
➢ What if the League of Nations evolves again? Predict the repercussions.

7. Bibliography And Additional Links For Reference

➢ https://www.britannica.com/topic/League-of-Nations
➢ https://www.britannica.com/topic/International-Labour-Organization
➢ https://history.state.gov/milestones/1914-1920/league
➢ https://www.un.org/en/about-us/history-of-the-un/predecessor
➢ https://www.britannica.com/topic/League-of-Nations
➢ https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/league-of-nations
➢ https://history.state.gov/milestones/1914-1920/league
➢ https://www.historyonthenet.com/why-did-the-league-of-nations-fail
➢ https://api.nationalgeographic.com/distribution/public/amp/history/article/league-
nations-doomed-before-began
➢ https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zbg4t39/revision/8