League of Nations: Post-War Challenges and Peace Efforts

The League of Nations and Post-War Problems

The creation of the League of Nations aimed to normalize international relations and establish lasting peace. However, it faced significant tensions, and the period between 1924 and 1929 offered only a brief respite.

The League of Nations

The League of Nations was an international organization founded after World War I, largely due to the initiative of U.S. President Woodrow Wilson. Its primary objectives were to ensure the maintenance of peace, collective security, disarmament, and economic cooperation. Its headquarters were in Geneva.

Governing Bodies

• General Assembly: Composed of all member states.
• Council: Included major powers such as the UK, France, Italy, and Japan.
• Secretariat: Handled administrative matters.
• Permanent Court of International Justice: Located in The Hague.

Member states committed to resolving conflicts peacefully and avoiding war. Sanctions and expulsion from the League were imposed on those who violated the covenant.

The League was a fragile organization, lacking its own army or executive capacity, which hindered its ability to achieve its objectives. The absence of major powers like the defeated nations and Soviet Russia, along with the U.S.'s non-participation due to its isolationist policy, further weakened it.

Positive aspects included the development of multilateral diplomacy, the prohibition of secret treaties, and the establishment of humanitarian and international cooperation bodies, such as the International Labor Organization and the World Health Organization, which remain relevant today.

Post-War Problems in Europe

The period between 1919 and 1924 was particularly unstable for Europe, marked by significant international tension.

Nationality Issues and War Reparations

The issue of nationalities within the former empires remained largely unresolved, with these empires being divided into eight new states. The outcomes of the peace treaties did not satisfy everyone.

Another significant problem was war reparations. The French government demanded substantial payments from Germany. In 1924, the Dawes Plan addressed the reparations issue and led to France's withdrawal from the Ruhr region. The 1925 Locarno Treaties established mutual guarantees between Germany, France, Belgium, Britain, and Italy to respect Germany's western borders, fostering a new style of international relations based on dialogue.

In 1926, Germany was admitted to the League of Nations, signaling a reconciliation with former adversaries. However, Germany did not recognize its eastern borders. The 1928 Kellogg-Briand Pact condemned war as a means of resolving conflicts, advocating for arbitration through the League of Nations.