League of Nations (English)

Société des Nations (French)Sociedad de Naciones (Spanish)

International organisation

1920–1946 →

1939–1941 semi-official flag

Anachronous world map in 1920–1945, showing theLeague of Nations and the world

Capital Geneva

Languages French, English andSpanish

Political structure Internationalorganisation

Secretary-General

- 1920–1933 Sir James EricDrummond

- 1933–1940 Joseph Avenol

- 1940–1946 Seán Lester

Historical era Interwar period

- Treaty of Versailles 10 January 1920

- First meeting 16 January 1920

- Dissolved 20 April 1946

The headquarters were based from 1 November 1920 in

League of NationsFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The League of Nations (abbreviated as LN in English,"Société des Nations" abbreviated as SDN in French) was anintergovernmental organisation founded on 10 January 1920 as aresult of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First WorldWar. It was the first international organisation whose principal

mission was to maintain world peace.[1] Its primary goals, asstated in its Covenant, included preventing wars throughcollective security and disarmament and settling international

disputes through negotiation and arbitration.[2] Other issues inthis and related treaties included labour conditions, just treatmentof native inhabitants, human and drug trafficking, arms trade,global health, prisoners of war, and protection of minorities in

Europe.[3] At its greatest extent from 28 September 1934 to 23February 1935, it had 58 members.

The diplomatic philosophy behind the League represented afundamental shift from the preceding hundred years. The Leaguelacked its own armed force and depended on the Great Powersto enforce its resolutions, keep to its economic sanctions, orprovide an army when needed. However, the Great Powerswere often reluctant to do so. Sanctions could hurt Leaguemembers, so they were reluctant to comply with them. When,during the Second Italo-Abyssinian War, the League accusedItalian soldiers of targeting Red Cross medical tents, BenitoMussolini responded that "the League is very well when

sparrows shout, but no good at all when eagles fall out."[4]

After a number of notable successes and some early failures inthe 1920s, the League ultimately proved incapable of preventingaggression by the Axis powers in the 1930s. Germany withdrewfrom the League, as did Japan, Italy, Spain, and others. Theonset of the Second World War showed that the League hadfailed its primary purpose, which was to prevent any futureworld war. The League lasted for 26 years; the United Nations(UN) replaced it after the end of the Second World War on 20April 1946 and inherited a number of agencies and organisationsfounded by the League.

Contents

1 Origins