Martyn Housden - The League of Nations and the Organization of Peace

The League of Nations and the Organisation of Peace

Martyn Housden

First published 2012 by Pearson Education Limited

Published 2014 by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY, 10017, USA

Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business

Copyright 2012 Taylor & Francis. All rights reserved.

The right of Martyn Housden to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Notices
Knowledge and best practice in this field are constantly changing. As new research and experience broaden our understanding, changes in research methods, professional practices, or medical treatment may become necessary.

Practitioners and researchers must always rely on their own experience and knowledge in evaluating and using any information, methods, compounds, or experiments described herein. In using such information or methods they should be mindful of their own safety and the safety of others, including parties for whom they have a professional responsibility.

To the fullest extent of the law, neither the Publisher nor the authors, contributors, or editors, assume any liability for any injury and/or damage to persons or property as a matter of products liability, negligence or otherwise, or from any use or operation of any methods, products, instructions, or ideas contained in the material herein.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A CIP catalogue record for this book can be obtained from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Housden, Martyn, 1962

The League of Nations and the organisation of peace / Martyn Housden.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-4082-2824-1 (pbk.)

1. League of NationsHistory. 2. PeaceInternational cooperation.

I. Title.

JZ4871.H68 2011

341.22dc23

2011033604

ISBN: 978-1-4082-2824-1 (pbk)

Set 10/13.5pt Berkeley Book by 35

Introduction to the series

History is narrative constructed by historians from traces left by the past. Historical enquiry is often driven by contemporary issues and, in consequence, historical narratives are constantly reconsidered, reconstructed and reshaped. The fact that different historians have different perspectives on issues means that there is also often controversy and no universally agreed version of past events. Seminar Studies was designed to bridge the gap between current research and debate, and the broad, popular general surveys that often date rapidly.

The volumes in the series are written by historians who are not only familiar with the latest research and current debates concerning their topic, but who have themselves contributed to our understanding of the subject. The books are intended to provide the reader with a clear introduction to a major topic in history. They provide both a narrative of events and a critical analysis of contemporary interpretations. They include the kinds of tools generally omitted from specialist monographs: a chronology of events, a glossary of terms and brief biographies of whos who. They also include bibliographical essays in order to guide students to the literature on various aspects of the subject. Students and teachers alike will find that the selection of documents will stimulate discussion and offer insight into the raw materials used by historians in their attempt to understand the past.

Clive Emsley and Gordon Martel

Series Editors

I must acknowledge John Hidens part in getting me interested in the League of Nations in the first place, also his helpful comments on an earlier draft of the text. David Smith helped stimulate my interest in Russian history and Gaynor Johnson has taught me a lot about international history between the wars. Patricia Clavin first told me about the UNs Human Security agenda, and I am very grateful that she looked over the sections of the book dealing with economics. Bernhardine Pejovic (formerly of the United Nations Library, Geneva) introduced me to the work of Fridtjof Nansen. Naturally I am happy to recognise the assistance of all her colleagues in the archive including Jacques Oberson for his helping identify some of the images used here. The staff at the British Library, Boston Spa were very helpful when it came to tracking down old League of Nations reports; the holdings at the J.B. Priestley Library at the University of Bradford were often invaluable; and the National Media Museum in Bradford must be acknowledged for letting me see its fine collection of inter-war photographs. Thanks are also due to Pearson Education, in particular to Christina Wipf Perry, for having faith in this project and to the series editor, Gordon Martel, for his helpful comments. The British Academy funded much of the research that stands behind this book. Obviously the errors in the text are my responsibility alone.

And, of course, I must not forget the usual suspects: Gillian, Patrick and Alexander. Without their support, nothing would ever get done.

Martyn Housden, Penistone, 2011

We are grateful to the following for permission to reproduce copyright material:

courtesy of UNOG Library, League of Nations Archives; Plate 4 Mary Evans Picture Library/Alamy; Plate 6 courtesy of the National Media Museum/SSPL.

In some instances we have been unable to obtain copyright permission, and we would appreciate any information that would enable us to do so.