League of Nations' Agencies in the 1920s: Success or Struggle?

The work of the agencies and commissions of the League of Nations in the 1920s can be seen as both successful and limited. Several major agencies and committees attached to the League played a significant role in addressing various issues, but their success was not universal.

One of the most successful agencies was the International Labour Organization (ILO). Although it had the same members as the League and was subject to the budget control of the Assembly, it operated as an autonomous organization with its own governing body, general conference, and secretariat. The ILO successfully restricted the addition of lead to paint and convinced several countries to adopt an eight-hour working day and a forty-eight-hour working week. However, it failed to get this proposal universally accepted. The ILO also campaigned to end child labor, increase the rights of women in the workplace, and make shipowners liable for accidents involving seamen. While it achieved some success in these areas, it was not universally accepted.

The Slavery Commission was another agency that sought to eradicate slavery and slave trading across the world. Its main success was in pressing governments to end slavery in mandated countries. The League secured a commitment from Ethiopia to end slavery as a condition of membership in 1923 and worked with Liberia to abolish forced labor and intertribal slavery. The Commission also kept records to control slavery, prostitution, and the trafficking of women and children. As a result of pressure from the League, several countries, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Nepal, Transjordan, and Persia, abolished slavery during the 1920s. Overall, the League succeeded in freeing over 200,000 slaves.

The Commission for Refugees was established in 1921 to look after the interests of refugees, including overseeing their repatriation and resettlement. It played a crucial role in helping ex-prisoners of war return home after the First World War. Within two years of its foundation, the commission had assisted 425,000 ex-prisoners of war in Russia to return home. It also established camps in Turkey in 1922 to aid the country with a refugee crisis, providing medical assistance and food to prevent the spread of diseases. Additionally, the commission introduced the Nansen passport as a means of identification for stateless people.

The Disarmament Committee, on the other hand, faced limitations in its work. Attempts to reach agreement in 1923 failed due to French refusal to accept limitations. A separate commission was established in 1926 to plan a further conference, but it did not take place until 1932 and ended in failure.

The Mandate Commission was responsible for overseeing the administration of mandated territories and received annual reports on their progress. While it played a crucial role in monitoring the mandates, its success was limited to administrative oversight.

In conclusion, the work of the agencies and commissions of the League of Nations in the 1920s had both successes and limitations. The ILO, Slavery Commission, and Commission for Refugees achieved significant progress in their respective areas, while the Disarmament Committee faced challenges and the Mandate Commission focused on administrative oversight. Overall, the League made important strides in addressing various global issues, but its success was not universal.