League of Nations

Origin of the League of Nations:

 Philip Noel Baker: The League of Nations, is the first attempt in history to furnish the International society
of nation, with a permanent and organic system of international political institution.
 A League means a group of persons (or countries) who are bound by a common purpose and
understanding.
 Gettell says: The League of Nations was not a state, nor was it a super state , it was an organized
association of sovereign states created by Treaty, a confederation worldwide in scope.
 League of Nations is an International Organization.
 Also called child of War.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 In 1905, Sir Henry Campbell submitted certain proposals for the creation of a league of peace.
 In 1911, Sir Edward Gray of GB also emphasized the need of establishing some sort of Concert of Nations,
but they did not receive any serious attention.
 After the outbreak of WW1 in 1914, efforts were made to find out the basis of lasting world peace.
 Prof. Rappard of Switzerland took a lead in this regard
 In 1915, the League of Nations Society was formed in England under the leadership of Lord Bryce. The
society recommended the setting up of the (League of Nations) and resolving disputes through mediation.
 In 1915, former American President Taft and followers formed an organization known as “The League to
Enforce Peace” in America.
 The British Government set up a committee in 1916, under the Chairman ship of Sir Phillimore for
preparing a draft plan for the sitting up of the League of Nations. This committee recommended that
there should be a Secretariat for implementation of resolutions of the League. A majority of these
recommendations were incorporated in the articles of the League if Nations.
 General Smuts, of England put forward a plan for promotion of lasting peace in the world. A permanent
committee was setup according to the plan.
 France also formulated a plan for World peace called “Bourgeris Scheme”. The plan suggested that there
should be some Ministers under this plan and they implement the resolutions of the international Court
of arbitration.
 On Jan 08, 1918, Woodrow Wilson, the President of USA announced a 14 point formula. The lost point
state that general association of Nations must be formed under specific covenants for the purpose of
according mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity to great and small states
alike.
 Wilson was called the father of League of Nations.
 Soon after the WW1, a peace conference was convened in Paris to discuss the peace proposals, in which a
19 member committee under the chairman ship of Wilson was setup on Jan 20, 1919.
 By April 28, 1919, that committee prepared the draft or covenant of the Constitution of the League of
Nations.
 Subsequently, the covenant was incorporated in the treaty of Versailles (Paris Peace conference), as part
1 and was signed on June 28, 1919.
 This covenant emerged as The League of Nations, and stated functioning at Geneva, Switzerland on Jan
10, 1920.
  After obtaining ratification from many countries and Drummond was appointed as a first secretary
general.

The League of Nations was considered as the first international organization set up with a political character. It was
the direct outcome of the horrors of World War I, and was established to ward-off the recurrence of war and to
ensure peace and security in the war-Weary World.

Membership and Withdrawal

(Permanent and non-permanent)

The assembly the Council could remove any nation violating the regulations of the league.

In the beginning 96 member nations in the League.

At the first assembly in Nov 1920, there were 42 original members and 6 new States were admitted.

At the second Assembly in 1921, three more States were admitted.

In the Third Assembly 1922, two new States were admitted.

At the fifth assembly in 1924 one more member was admitted.

At the seventh Assembly 1926, Germany was admitted.

The total number reached to 55.

The highest number of states was 58 in 1937-38.

In the League’s last stage in 1946 the membership fell to 43 as a number of state withdrew from its membership.

The USSR was given membership only in 1934 and in Dec, 1939 it was expelled from the League when she
committed aggression against Finland.

The USA did not join the League as the Senate failed to ratify the peace treaty.

India was one of the original member of the League of Nations.

Objectives of the League of Nations

The main objects of the League of Nations have been specified in the Preamble of the Covenant as under:

I. Promotion of international cooperation and achievement of International Peace and Security.

II. Acceptance of obligation not to resort to war.
III. Prescription of open, just and honorable relations among nations.
 IV. Firm establishment of the understandings of International law as the actual rule of conduct among
Governments,
V. The maintenance of Justice and a scrupulous respect for all treaty obligations in the dealing of organised
peoples with one another.

Structure of the League

The League had three main organs;

 The Assembly
 The Council
 The Secretariat

In addition to these three there were two autonomous organs namely, the Permanent Court of International
Justice and the International Labour Organization.

There was five subsidiary or auxiliary organs namely:

i) Mandates Commission;

ii) International Institute for Intellectual Cooperation;

iii) International Tariff Commission;

iv) International Commission for Arms; and

v) International Transport Commission.

The Assembly:

 Principle Organ Of LON ( General Assembly in UN)

  The Assembly of the League of Nations was its political and representative organ which included
all the member States.
 All the members of the League of Nations were members of the Assembly.
 Each Member State could depute three delegates, but entitled only for one vote.
 The Assembly thus closely resembled a diplomatic conference; it certainly was not an
international legislative body.
 As a rule, all important decisions could be taken by the Assembly by the unanimous agreement
of the members present at the meeting
 Assembly was expected to meet at least once a year. However, "Special sessions of the
Assembly could be convened as and when necessary.
 The Assembly elected its own President at every new session by a majority vote.

The main function of the Assembly:

 The main function of the Assembly along with the Council was to deal at its meetings with any
matter within the sphere of action of the league or affecting the peace of the world.

The exclusive functions assigned to the Assembly included:

 Admitting new members to the League of Nations by a two-thirds majority.

 Election of the non-permanent members of the Council.
 Apportioning the expenses of the League among the member States.
 Advising reconsideration by members of the League, of the treaties which had become
inapplicable.
 Consideration of international conditions whose continuance might endanger the peace of the
world.
 Supervising the work of the Council.
 Election of fifteen Judges of the Permanent Court of International Justice every nine years by
majority vote.
 Amendment of the Covenant; and
 Approval of the nomination of the Secretary-General by the Council.

The Council:

 The Council was designed to be a small body

 To serve as the executive organ of the League
  It consists of five permanent members [the UK, France, Italy, Japan and Germany (in
1926)] and there were four non-permanent members (in the beginning) and now rose to
eleven, who were elected by the majority of the Assembly
 And their tenure was three years. ‘
 The Council could increase the number of permanent and non-permanent members
with the approval of the majority of the Assembly.
 The Council was expected to meet at least once a year.
 It met either at the seat of the League or at such other place as was decided upon.
 Emergency meetings of the Council could be summoned during the emergency arising
out of war or threat of war.
 Every member of the Council had only one vote.
 Decisions were taken unanimously.
 In this, no member including permanent members had the veto power.

The Council along with the Assembly had the power to “deal at its meetings any matter within
any matter within the spare of action of the league or affecting the peace of the world”.

Functions:

i) The Council could issue The directions to the Secretary General to undertake
programs.
ii) The Council was authorized to prepare disarmament( the act of reducing or
abolishing weapons) plans.
iii) The Council was empowered to settle disputes between the States.
iv) The Council plays a major role in the appointment of Judges and Secretary General.
v) Supervised the activities of the other organ of the league of nation and sent report
to the Assembly.
vi) The Council was to looked after territories under Mandatory system and
establishment of stable peace.
vii) The Council protected member States from powerful States;
viii) Nomination of additional Permanent member of Council.

Secretariat:

 The Covenant also provided for a permanent Secretariat at Geneva headed by the
Secretary-General.
  The Secretary-General was appointed by the Council with the consent of the Assembly.
 Eric Drummond of Britain was appointed the first Secretary-General.
 Seven hundred and fifty officials used to work under Him.
 The Secretary and other staff of the Secretariat was appointed by the Secretary-General
with the approval of the Council.
 The Secretariat was divided into eleven branches Each branch had a Director.
 The expenditure for the Secretariat was to be met by member States by way of
contributions.
 The Secretariat worked throughout the year.
 The officials of the League, while on duty were entitled to diplomatic privileges and
immunities:
 The members of the League were in no way responsible to their respective
Governments.
The chief functions of the Secretariat include:

 coordinating with the widespread activities of the League carried on by its Various
organs.
 providing a source of continuity & follow-up or League work.
 keeping the records of the League agencies.
 furnishing information and analysis to organs and delegates.
 registration of treaties and international engagements entered into by the members of
the League;
 arrangement of the meetings and the like;
 indirectly influencing in a limited manner the settlement of disputes and formulation of
League policy.