All Women's Talk

January 10 ... on This Day ...

By Neecey

On this date in 1920 the League of Nations was founded.

The League of Nations was born from the Paris Peace Conference that finished World War I. The principle, as stated in its covenant, was that an intergovernmental organization would, through collective security and disarmament, would settle international disputes through arbitration and negotiation. It would also tackle issues that were often a sub-culture of war – treatment of native inhabitants, labor conditions, prisoners of war, arms trade, protection of minorities and global health.

As you can see, it was very much a forerunner of the philosophy of today’s United Nations. And like the UN, the League of Nations work was carried out by various organs such as the International Court of Justice and the Health Organization.

The League was founded by 42 nations – 23 of which stuck through until it was dissolved in 1946 (to be replaced by the United Nations.) Its highest number of nations was 58, between 09/28/1934 and 02/23/1935. Today, there are 193 members of the UN.

Interesting fact:
US President Woodrow Wilson was a major protagonist in the World War I peace process in Europe and was highly supportive (and even a driving force) in the concept and formation of the League of Nations. So much so that he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1919. However, the USA did NOT ever join the League of Nations.

Also on this day:

1843: Outlaw Frank James born in Clay County, Missouri.

1861: Florida seceded from the United States.

1901: Gusher at Spindletop Hill, Texas signifies the start of the US oil industry.

1928: The Soviet Union ordered the exile of Leon Trotsky.

1941: Franklin D. Roosevelt introduces the lend-lease program.

1962: Avalanche on Mount Huascaran kills thousands in Peru.

2000: AOL-Time Warner formed in one of the biggest ever media mergers.

2003: North Korea announced that it was withdrawing from the global nuclear arms control treaty and that it had no plans to develop nuclear weapons. (And in 2016?)

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