Achievements Of The League Of Nations

ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Aaland Islands

These islands lie between Sweden and Finland. Both Finland and Aaland once belonged to Sweden. On the ownership of Aaland Islands, there came a dispute between Sweden and Finland in 1920. A special Commission of the League investigated the case and settled the dispute in favour of Finland.

Mosul Boundary Dispute

This was a question related to the frontier dispute between Turkey and the Great Britain's mandated territory of Iraq. Both the parties claimed Mosul Villayet which was rich in oil. Both failed to come to an agreement on this boundary line. Ultimately the League Council gave its final judgment on the subject. . In June 1926, a treaty was made between Turkey and Great Britain by which a small part of the Villayet was given to Turkey. The revised boundary was recognised as definite. Some royalty from Mosul oil fields were given to Turkey.

Eupen and Malmady

In 1920 and 1921 Germany protested to the League of Nations against the decision of giving Euphen and Malmady to Belgium. The League Council discussed the matter in September 1920 and wrote to the government that its decision regarding the transfer of Euphen and Malmedy to Belgium was final.

Curfu Incident

In August 1923, an Italian general and two officers were murdered on Greek soil. The Italians demanded apologies and reparations too for the crime. Greece refused to accept the demands of Italy. Hence Italy occupied the island of Curfu. In this dispute Britain and France mediated and brought about a compromise between Italy and Greece.

Dispute between Greece and Bulgaria

There was a border dispute between Greece and Bulgaria. In 1925 a Greek army commander was murdered. The Greek army marched in to Bulgaria. The League Council requested Britain and France to investigate this affair. The Greek forces were withdrawn and Greece was asked to pay compensation to Bulgaria for violation of her territory on a scale to be fixed by a League Commission.

Dispute between Great Britain and France

In 1921, there was dispute between France and Great Britain over the nationality question in Tunis and Morocco. The matter went to the Court of International Justice. However the dispute was decided by mutual negotiations between the foreign ministers of the two countries.

Non-political Work

The League did also a lot of non-political work. A slavery convention met at Geneva in 1925. In 1932 it was decided to set up a permanent Slavery Commission. The Financial Commission was responsible for the issue and supervision of various League Loans for Austria, Hungary, Greece etc. The league also set up in 1923 the Health Organisation with a Health Committee and a secretariat.It did good in fighting diseases such as Malaria, Smallpox, Rabies, Cancer, Tuberculosis and heart diseases etc. It helped nations to improve national health. It organised technical conferences. The League did commentate Common Wealth work in the field of control of traffic in dangerous drugs, peasant reforms, suppression of trade in obscene literature .