League of Nations established

First World War

Peace Keeping

The forerunner of the United Nations, the League of Nations was established on 10 January 1920 following the Paris Peace Conference at the end of the First World War. The signed ‘Covenant of the League of Nations’ charter document had twenty-six articles and an Annex of signatories, all preceded by Part I that stated:

THE HIGH CONTRACTING PARTIES,
IN ORDER TO PROMOTE international co-operation and to achieve international peace and security

  • by the acceptance of obligations not to resort to war,

  • by the prescription of open, just and honourable relations between nations,

  • by the firm establishment of the understandings of international law as the actual rule of conduct among Governments, and

  • by the maintenance of justice and a scrupulous respect for all treaty obligations in the dealings of organised peoples with one another,

AGREE to this Covenant of the League of Nations.