the objectives was increased from the beginning by the absence of three Great Powers namely USA (did not become a member), Germany (a defeated nation) and Russia. The latter two joined in and . While Germany resigned in , Russia was expelled in . Activities of the League Between and , the League was called in to settle a number of disputes and was successful in three issues.
In a dispute arose between Sweden and Finland over the sovereignty of the Aaland Islands. The League ruled that the islands should go to Finland. In the following year the League was asked to settle the frontier between Poland and Germany in Upper Silesia, which was successfully resolved. The third dispute was between Greece and Bulgaria in .
Greece invaded Bulgaria, and the League ordered a ceasefire. After investigation it decided that Greece was to pay reparations. The League justified its existence through reduction of international opium traffic and in the control of spread of disease by aiding poor and backward countries. Its agencies collected huge data on labour and business conditions throughout the world.
It conducted plebiscites in disputed areas and helped in finding homes for refugees. It made a beginning in codifying international law. Imperialism and its Onslaught Incidents of Violations One of the major problems confronting the European powers was how to achieve disarmament. In the Council of the League set up a commission to hold a Disarmament Conference.
But the proposed conference materialised only in . In this Conference, Germany’s demand of equality of arms with France was rejected. Hitler withdrew Germany from the Conference and the League. The League could do nothing about the seizure of Vilna by Poland in .
In , when war threatened to break out between Italy and Greece, Italians refused to submit to the mediation of the League. Japan attacked Manchuria in September and the League condemned Japan. Japan followed the example of Germany and resigned. In the context of Italy’s attack on Ethiopia, the League