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Advocating the need of International Organization
During the First World War, several world leaders advocated the need of International organization to preserve peace and settle conflicts between countries by arbitration. -
Lee Smith, speech in the House of Commons
The purposes of the war will be achieved if there is a League of Nations with an absolute and decisive power upon any mere aggression, and consideration of any legitimate claims which any of the countries engaged in the War may be able to make good. -
The Failure of League of Nations-Italy
In 1919, Italian nationalists had promised to improve their nation. However, they played no part despite the fact that it had been set up with the specific task of maintaining peace. -
Teschen- Negative impact of the League
In January 1919, Polish and Czech troops fought in the streets of Teschen-a small town between Poland and Czechoslovakia where famous for coal mines. From this, many died. People called the League helps, the Legue decided most of the town should go to Poland while Czechoslovakia also have one of Teschen’s suburs. However, this suburb contained the most valuable coal mines, the Poles refused to accept this decision.There were no more violence between both countries the their arguments continued -
Vilna
In 1920, Vilna asked for League help on their issue of Lithuania- where they were the capital of the nation. The problem was that 30 % of the nation’s population was from Poland with Lithuanians only making up 2 % of the population. However, the support from League could not persuade Poles to leave the city. From the force of Poles, Vilna had to stay in Polish hands until the end of World War II. -
Aaland Islands
The Aaland Islands in 1921 are placed nearly equal distance between Finland and Sweden. They had traditionally belonged to Finland but majority of the islanders desired to be governed by Sweden. In this point, neither Sweden nor Finland could come to a decision of who would own the island and they asked the League to take decision. The League’s decision was the island should remain with Finland with no weapons, no major conflicts between both nations. -
Upper Silesia
The Treaty of Versaillers gave the people of Upper Silesia the right to have a vote on whether they wanted to be part of Germany or part of Poland. From this, the result was more to the Germany. This became the riot between people who advocated for Germany and who opposed. The League asked to settle this conflict and decided to split the nation between Germany and Poland. This decision was accepted by most of the citizens. -
War between Russia and Poland
In 1920, Poland invaded the land held by the Russians- they quickly conquered the territory and enlarged their nation. From this, the Russians had no choice but to sign the Treaty of Riga which handed over to Poland nearly double size of Poland of Russian land. In this, the League did not do anything about the violation of another country by Poland. They did not support the nation fully, which seemed as if the League members were selecting which countries were acceptable and which ones were not. -
Both positive and negative of the Legue of Nations
In Turkey around 1923, the League failed to stop a bloody war but this war helped to respond to the humanitarian crisis. During this period, infections were one of the major problem. The League sent doctors from the Health Organisation to check the spread of disease and it spent approximetly £10 million on building farms, homes etc for the refugees. -
Memel
Memel is a port in Lithuania- most people living in Memel were Lithuanians, the Lithuania government believed that the port should be governed by it. However, the Treaty of Versailles put Memel and the port near under the control of the League. The League made the port an “international zone” which led to the League’s success. This led both League and Memel success and have more positive consequences. -
The invasion of the Ruhr
In relation to the invasion of the Ruhr took in place in 1923, the League failed in several different ways. First, in contrary to League rules, the French and Belgium invaded the Ruhr- Germany’s most important industrial zone. Also, when the League enforces its will, it needed the support from its major backers in Europe, Britain and France but couldn’t because it was seen tob e involved in breaking its own rules. -
Crisis in China by Japan
In September 1931, the League of Nations faced a crisis when the Japanese Army occupied large areas of Manchuria- a province of China. The Chinese government also appealed to the League of Nations under Article 11 of the Covenant. -
Arthur Henderson, speech at the League of Nations
The world wants disarmament. The world needs disarmament. We have it in our power to help fashion the pattern of future history. Behind all the technical complexities regarding manpower, gun power, tonnage, categories, and the like, is the well-being of mankind, the future of our developing civilisation. -
Arthur Henderson, speech at the League of Nations
The world wants disarmament. The world needs disarmament. We have it in our power to help fashion the pattern of future history. Behind all the technical complexities regarding manpower, gun power, tonnage, categories, and the like, is the well-being of mankind, the future of our developing civilisation. -
Henry (Chips) Channon, diary entry
"The League of Nations will stand or fall by it. But I am a little uneasy that the destinies of countless of millions should be in the exquisite hands of Anthony Eden, for whom I have affection, even admiration - but not blind respect. Why should England fight Italy over Abyssinia, when most of our far flung Empire has been won by conquest?" -
Konni Zilliacus wrote about the Spanish Civil War and the League of Nations in his unpublished autobiography, Challenge to Fear.
In September 1936 del Vayo had appealed to the League under Article 10 of the Covenant to provide the Spanish Government with the arms it needed to defend its territorial integrity and political independence against Hitler's and Mussolini's aggression. I can still remember that black day in the Assembly, listening to Eden droning away from the rostrum, explaining why it was contrary to the Covenant of the League to interfere in an ideological conflict. What cunning bastards they are, the damned -
Seeking for an international peacekeeping organization
While fighting the Axis powers of Germany, Italy, and Japan during World War II, United States President, Franklin Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin met several times between 1941 and 1945 to develop an international peacekeeping organization with the goal of preventing future wars on the scale of WWII. -
Foundation of United Nations
United Nations was founded in 1945 with the mission to maintain world peace, develop good relations
between countries, promote cooperation in solving the world’s problems, and encourage a respect for
human rights. -
Establishment of IMF
In December 1945, the IMF and The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, also known as the World Bank, were officially established. The original purpose of the World Bank was to grant loans to rebuild Europe after the war. Both institutions worked in conjunction with the Marshall Plan for the redevelopment and economic stabilization of Europe. -
Establishment of WTO
WTO, World Trade Organization, commenced on the bases of multilateral trade negotiations conducted by GATT (General Agreement on Tarrifs and Trade) members. It was established to implement the trade negotiations. -
Internation Organization for Migration
The official website of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Established in 1951, IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration.
