Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2.league of Nations
2.league of Nations
1- Origin
League of Nations was an International Organization whose membership was open to all
the states of the whole world and its purpose was also general.
Treaty of Versailles 1919
The origin of league of Nations started with an idea emerged after World War-I in form
of fourteen points given by Woodrow Wilson in 1918 who has also been a president of
USA. In these fourteen points, one point dictated the idea of collective security. The
world and the people have seen so many wars especially World War-I so the concept of
collective security should be introduced that whole world should be gathered on a
platform for collective security. This conncept of collective security eventually resulted
in formation of treaty known as Treaty of Versailles 1919.
Versailles is a city of France. Treaty of Versailles is a comprehensive document
comprised of 435 articles. It was an agreement of Allied Associative powers with
Germany. There were two major powers in World War-I i.e. Allied Powers and Central
Powers. Allied Powers consisted of British, Russia, France and USA. Central Powers
consisted of Germany and its allies like Japan, Ottomon Empire and Italy. Besides
inculcation of collective security in the treaty, the treaty played a major role in
termination of war between Allied and Central Powers. Moreover, Treaty of Versailles is
the document which created the International Organization known as League of Nations.
Function
2- Organs of League of Nations
League of Nations was properly established in 1920 and had four organs although its
major and primary organs were three in number. The fourth one is a judicial organ.
Permanent Court of International Justice is not considered as a direct organ of league of
Nations but as a Subsidiary organ.
a. The Assembly-----------Primary Organ
All the states which will become the member of League of Nations were to send three
members each. For example, if there were 100 states who became member of League
of Nations then there will be total three hundred members of Assembly. It is to be
noted that one vote will be counted of three persons in the Assembly. The tasks which
are being perforemed by General Assembly of United Nations today were performed
by Assembly of League of Nations at that time like passing resolutions, to discuss
ongoing issues in the world and to work as a liaison between other two primary
organs of League of Nations.
b. The Council--------------Primary Organ
The Council of League of Nations is much similar to Security Council of United
Nations but its functions are a bit different.
There were two kinds of members in The Council.
Permanent Members - At that time, America, British, France, Italy and Japan
were the permanent members of The Council. Later on, when USA could not
ratify it then Germany and Soviet Union also became the permanent
members.
Non-Permanent Members – Non-permanent members were to be elected
through geographical distribution from different areas for particular time.
The work of The Council was of executive nature. The resolutions which were
passed by The Assembly and enforcement or application of any kind was
required regardingly then The Council did it as it was ther application body and
executive organ of League of Nations.
League of Nations, on the other hand, said that International disputes should be
resolved by amicable means but if an International dispute is not settled by
amicable means then with lapse of three months war can be declared. It was a
major Lacuna that war was legalized with three months notice.