The League of Nations saw the light of day on the heels of World War I. The remote and immediate causes that brought about the establishment of the League stand expounded in two words, namely (1) reactions to the horrors of war witnessed by the world, and (2) the need to keep balance of power for the safeguard of nations.
The enormous bloodshed and loss of millions of human lives during the war made its impact that every country harbored the idea of keeping away from war which necessarily gave birth to famine, pestilence and economic embarrassment The balance of power was felt as the need of the hour for settlement of international disputes. Nations required guarantee against future aggression.
Thus came into existence the League of Nations with the sole object of obviating all possibilities of future wars and inevitable devastation lying in its embryo.
Membership and Organization:
The League of Nations started with the membership of 32 allied powers and neutral states. The door was kept open for any sovereign state or dominion or colony provided 2/3 of the Assembly agreed regarding its membership. The membership could be ended with 2 years’ notice coupled with clearance of all obligations.
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The organization consisted of four component sections; (1) the Assembly, (2) the Council, (3) the Secretariat, and (4) the Court of Justice.
The Assembly:
It comprised representatives of the various states with a limitation of three representatives and one vote per state. The Assembly held its meetings at Geneva. It had its own elected President and Vice-President Vide article 3 of the Covenant, the Assembly wielded extensive powers in dealing with any matter affecting the peace of the world.
The Council:
It was entrusted with the executive work of the League. It consisted of permanent, non-permanent and temporary members and had, like the Assembly, a wide range of powers in dealing with matters relating to the peace of the world.
The Secretariat:
The function of the Secretariat was to prepare agenda and collect all information’s concerning the humanitarian, social and political work having an international bearing.
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A Secretary-General held charge of the Secretariat. He was appointed by the Council with the approval of the Assembly. All the expenses of the League were shared by member states.
The Permanent Court of Justice:
This court acted as an advisory body to the Assembly and the Council for legal opinion on all matters referred to it. It also functioned as a judicial tribunal for adjudicating disputes of international character. It acted as an interpreter of a treaty or any other question of international law.
It had its permanent seat at the Hague. It consisted of 15 judges who were elected for a period of 9 years. They were eligible for re-election. Every nation referring its dispute to the court had the right to appoint one judge of its own nationality if there was no such judge on the bench.