100 YEARS OF INTERNATIONAL SERVICE

This month marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the League of Nations (LoN), predecessor to the current worldwide, intergovernmental organization, the United Nations.

Founded on Jan. 10, 1920, after the Paris Peace Conference that ended the first world war, the LoN’s objective was to focus on disarmament and prevent future wars across the globe. Although the organization lasted only 26 years until the founding of the United Nations after World War II, the LoN set up many of the principles, objectives, and agencies used by the U.N. today.

The structure of the LoN mainly consisted of three main organizing bodies: the Assembly, the Council, and the Secretariat. The main priority of the Assembly was to organize annual conferences of its members. Although the Assembly could not execute or enforce any activities, the body was responsible for overseeing the budget of the LoN, permitting potential countries to join the LoN, and recommending action for the Council.

Next was the Council, whose primary duties were to solve international issues. If a solution could not be met between the countries involved, the Council had the authority to execute specific disciplinary actions, including moral condemnation, economic sanctions, and, finally, military action from LoN members.

Lastly, the Secretariat: The Secretariat handled the daily activities of the LoN and assisted the Assembly and the Council. Unlike the Assembly and the Council, the Secretariat had a single formal leader (person), called the Secretary General.

Despite the clear roles that each body in the LoN fulfilled, the LoN was infamous for having many weaknesses and for failing to resolve international disputes. The most prominent example of the LoN’s weakness revolves around its lack of global representation, most notably, the United States. Ironically, while the LoN was founded by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, the U.S. was absent from the LoN’s Council, which enabled France and Great Britain to not cooperate with Germany between World War II and the outbreak of World War II.

In addition, the members of the LoN were hesitant to take unified military action against foreign countries that some members would view as being “on good terms.” As a result, members were afraid for the safety of their own sovereign nation and the LoN could not collectively deter aggression around the globe.

Lastly, the LoN’s power was severely hindered by their lack of its own military force. Because the LoN did not have its own military, it had to rely on the members of the LoN to provide a military, and as mentioned before, the nations were hesitant to employ their own forces in such efforts.

While the LoN was, overall, a failure in achieving its goals to disarm and prevent future conflicts globally, the legacy of the LoN provided many of the structures and philosophies that were transferred to the current day United Nations in 1943, at the Tehran Conference.

As flawed as the LoN was during the early 20th century, it is worth remembering that only, and exactly, 100 years ago did the first intergovernmental organization try to promote world peace, and the legacy passed down to the U.N. of today.

Advocate Staff