Presented by:

Md. Sadekul Islam

Assistant Professor
Department of Law, FSSS, BUP
 What is League of Nations (LON)?
First worldwide intergovernmental organization.
Principal mission was to maintain world peace.
Founded on 10 January 1920 following the
Paris Peace Conference (by the enforcement of
Treaty of Versailles in 1919) that ended the
First World War and ceased operations on 20
April 1946.
 Birth of LON
During the first world war, the world community
especially Europe and America were seriously
considering the establishment of an international
organization which could be effective in preventing
wars and save people of the world.
PM of GB Lloyed George said in one speech,
“We must seek by the creation of some international
organization to limit the burden of armaments and
diminish the probability of war.”
 Birth (cont.)
Minister Robert Cecil proposed to form a committee
to prepare a draft for establishing mutual co-
operation among States and to maintain peace and
security in the world. After accepting the proposal a
committee was formed under chair of Lord Philimore.
Similarly, the French Govt formed a committee to
study a plan for establishment of LON. The report of
this committee was more clear than that of Philimore
Committee.
 Birth (cont.)
President Woodrow Wilson of USA put forward his
14 point programme for the establishment of LON.
The Programme includes-Establishment of
conference of big powers, a permanent secretariat,
disarmament, compulsory arbitration and
military action against members resorting to war
and violating provisions of LON.
Prsident Wilson bore fruits to the establishment of
LON and much of the credit goes to him.
 Birth (cont.)
Wilson proposed his second and third draft.
An official British draft was also prepared.
American and British drafts were compiled and put
before League of Nations Commission of the Peace
Conference.
Peace Conference approved the draft on April 21,
1919 and Covenant of LON adopted.
LON finally came into existence on January 20,
1920.
 Aims of LON
To promote international co-operation.
To achieve international peace and security.
Amicable settlement of international
disputes.
To improve living conditions of people of
the world.
 Objectives of LON
 Three broad objectives:

To ensure collective security

To assure functional co-operation
To execute mandates of peace treaties
 Membership of LON
• Initially 42 countries joined the League. In 1930, it
had 59 members.
• America couldn’t become a member because of the
lack of approval from the Congress.
• Great Britain and France were the major powers
that guided the LoN policy.
• Italy and Japan were also members of the Council.
Principle Organs of LON

1. Assembly
2. Council &
3. The Secretariat
 Assembly
Association with all members.
Recommended actions to the Council.
Nomination of non-permanent members of the
council.
Appointment of Secretary-General.
Could deal with any matter affecting the peace and
security of the world.
Met once a year.
 Council
 Small group with permanent members (principal allied
powers of the First World War) like Britain, France, Italy,
Japan.
Temporary members of Council could be elected by the
Assembly.
Discuss problems in case of emergency, preparation of plans
of disarmament, advice to members regarding defence and
external aggression and establish moral condemnation,
economic sanctions and/or military actions if needed.
Decisions to be unanimous for dispute settlement.
 The Secretariat
Third important organ.
Record the League’s meetings.
Prepare reports for the agencies.
A sort of international civil service or
bureaucratic organ.
Secretary-General was the chief.
 Functions of LON
i. To promote international co-operation and
achieve international peace and security.
ii. Amicable settlement of international disputes.
iii. Reduction of national armament to the lowest
point.
iv. Maintain international relations.
v. To stand against external aggression.
 Defects and Weaknesses of LON
i. Unanimous decision making.
ii. No complete prohibition of war.
iii. Non participation of USA and became mostly
Europe centric.
iv. Constitutional amendment of the Covenant and
option to leave.
v. Withdrawal of membership. At the beginning
members were 62, but ultimately reduced to 32.
vi. Incompetent council.
vii. No control of big powers.
viii. Main purpose of maintaining peace and
security was not successful.
ix. Self interest of big powers.
x. Discrimination between great powers and
small States.
 Causes of Dissolution of LON
Events leading to the dissolution:
Attack by Italy on Corfu Island of Greece in 1923.
Japanese invasion of Manchuria of China in 1931.
War between Bolivia and Paraguay and role of LON.
Attack by Italy on Ethiopia in 1935.
German attack on Austria in 1938 and annexure to
Reich.
Russian invasion on Finland in 1939.
Failure to acquire universal character.
 Dissolution of LON
LON finally dissolved on 20 April 1946.
Lasted for 27 years.
Success was in the field of economics, public
health, communication, transport etc., but
everything fell with the failure to prevent 2nd
world war.
UNO replaced LON at the end of 2nd world war.