How successful was the League of Nations in the 1920's?

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How successful was the League of Nations in the 1920’s?

After suffering the horrors of the First World War, many people wanted a long lasting peace and to ensure this happened, the League of Nations was formed with four main goals in mind.

They were: to discourage aggression from any nation, to encourage countries to co-operate (especially in trade), to encourage nations to disarm and finally to improve living condition in all parts of the world.  After comparing their successes and failings, one looks to see how well they achieved these goals and how successful they were in the 1920’s.

        The league was successful with a number of border disputes that it resolved quickly and peacefully. Some of these would include the Upper Silesia dispute.  The region (bordering Poland and Germany) had a rich iron and steel industry and with both countries wanting control over it, the league stepped in to resolve the dispute and held a plebiscite for the Silesian people. French and British troops were sent to keep order at the polling booths and in the end the industrials areas went to Germany, and the rural areas went to Poland.  Both counties accepted this decision and many safeguards were built in to prevent future disputes.  By acting quickly and taking control of the situation, the league successfully solved the dispute without resorting to military action.

        Another successful incident for the league would be the Aaland Island Dispute of 1921. Here both Sweden and Finland wanted control of a small group of islands midway between the two countries. Both were threatening to fight for them and so they appealed to the League for help. After considering the matter carefully it was decided that the islands should go to Finland. Sweden accepted the ruling and war was avoided.  Sweden’s acceptance not only prevented war but also proved that the league was strong enough to make a country accept its ruling without resorting to military action.  

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        Also in October 1925, following an incident where Greek soldiers were killed on the Bulgarian border, Greece invaded Bulgaria. The Bulgarians appealed to the league for help. The league condemned the Greek action and ordered it to pull out and pay compensation to Bulgaria. Faced with this moral condemnation, it yielded. This shows how the league’s strategy of moral condemnation was working successfully.  

        But it wasn’t just border disputes the league had success with.  They were also successful in making social and industrial improvements. The league did tremendous work to get refugees and former prisoners of war, back to ...

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