Not all leaders and major powers ⇒ convinced by Wilson’s vision for league of nations
Lloyd George ⇒ wanted simpler organization ⇒ that met only in emergencies Body like this already existed ⇒ conference of Ambassadors
Clemenceau ⇒ was also skeptical about the league
- wanted his country to be free and act independently
Ability to Achieve disarmament
By joining league ⇒ members were expected to disarm
- many countries feared that they would not be able to protect their territories + interests if they did so
→ led to reluctance among members to disarm (worsened in 1930s)
Ability to Stop Aggressor countries
Member countries ⇒ concerned about impact of economic sanction on their economies → therefore reluctant to stop trading with aggressor countries.
Although league could take military action against aggressor country as last resort ⇒ difficult to do so → league did not have an army of its own
Membership of the League
march 1920 ⇒ year after debate ⇒ US congress refused to ratify TOV + allow US to join the league USSR ⇒ also not included in league as it was communist → 2 of the worlds greatest powers (US and USSR) were not part of the league
Germany ⇒ also not allowed to join due to its role in causing WW1
Without US in league ⇒ economic sanctions were difficult to enforce US ⇒ could continue to supply weapons and goods to aggressor countries ⇒ even if league imposed military or economic sanctions.
Meant that aggressor countries > would not be as badly affected ⇒ could continue to trade with US which had worlds largest economy.
US also had one of the most powerful militaries. Absence of US from the league ⇒ difficult to take strong action against aggressor countries ⇒ if League decided to do so as a last resort