Explanation: The League of Nations officially commenced operations on January 10, 1920, a date directly linked to the conclusion of the Paris Peace Conference, which formally ended World War I.

Explanation: Australia's participation as an autonomous member nation in the League of Nations marked a significant step in its assertion of independence on the international stage.

Explanation: U.S. President Woodrow Wilson was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1919 for his significant contributions to the conception and promotion of the League of Nations.

Explanation: Early concepts of a league of nations were more closely aligned with Enlightenment ideals, particularly Immanuel Kant's philosophy on perpetual peace, rather than Machiavellian realism.

Explanation: The Concert of Europe, a 19th-century system of alliances and diplomacy, predated the League of Nations and focused on preserving the status quo and preventing major conflicts through cooperation among European powers.

Explanation: The Hague Conventions, which addressed rules of war and peaceful dispute settlement, were established in 1899 and 1907, predating the League of Nations.

Explanation: Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson is credited with coining the term 'League of Nations' in 1914, significantly influencing the discourse around international organization.

Explanation: During World War I, women's peace movements actively campaigned for the establishment of international organizations, such as a league of nations, to ensure future peace.

Explanation: The 'League to Enforce Peace,' an influential organization in the early 20th century, promoted the use of arbitration for dispute resolution and the application of sanctions against states engaging in aggression.

Explanation: While the Inter-Allied Women's Conference secured important rights concerning the trafficking of women and children, their calls for full legal equality for women within the League were not fully realized.

Explanation: Germany and Soviet Russia were initially excluded from the League of Nations in 1920 due to their roles in World War I and political circumstances, respectively.

Explanation: The establishment of a general association of nations, or league of nations, was indeed a prominent point within Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points, intended to guarantee political independence and territorial integrity.

Explanation: The League of Nations was officially founded and began its operations on January 10, 1920, following the conclusion of the Paris Peace Conference.

Explanation: U.S. President Woodrow Wilson was a leading proponent and architect of the League of Nations, championing its creation on the international stage.

Explanation: Immanuel Kant's 1795 treatise laid foundational philosophical groundwork for the idea of a federation of states promoting lasting peace.

Explanation: The Concert of Europe, established in the 19th century, served as a precursor system focused on maintaining stability and the existing political order among European powers.

Explanation: The Geneva Conventions (starting in 1864) and the Hague Conventions (1899, 1907) were significant early developments in international humanitarian law and the laws of war, preceding the League.

Explanation: British political scientist Goldsworthy Lowes Dickinson is recognized for first using the term 'League of Nations' in 1914.

Explanation: Women's peace movements were significant proponents of international cooperation and actively lobbied for the establishment of organizations like the League of Nations to avert future conflicts.

Explanation: The 'League to Enforce Peace' championed the use of arbitration to resolve disputes and the imposition of sanctions as a deterrent against aggression.

Explanation: The Inter-Allied Women's Conference achieved success in advocating for women's involvement in the League and securing declarations against the trafficking of women and children.

Explanation: Germany, identified as the primary aggressor in World War I, was initially excluded from League membership upon its founding.

Explanation: Among the key proposals in Wilson's Fourteen Points was the creation of an international organization, a league of nations, dedicated to maintaining peace and security.

Explanation: The principal mission of the League of Nations was the maintenance of world peace and security, not the management of colonial territories or the oversight of international trade, although it did engage in related activities.

Explanation: The League of Nations' Covenant explicitly established the prevention of wars via collective security and the pursuit of disarmament as fundamental objectives.

Explanation: The League of Nations represented a departure from traditional diplomacy, advocating for an institutionalized approach centered on collective security and peaceful dispute resolution rather than power politics.

Explanation: The principal mission of the League of Nations, as articulated in its Covenant, was to foster international cooperation and achieve peace and security among nations.

Explanation: While the League addressed issues like global health and disarmament, the regulation of international currency exchange rates was not among its core objectives.

Explanation: The League represented a shift towards institutionalized diplomacy, emphasizing collective security and multilateral cooperation over the traditional balance-of-power politics.

Explanation: Jan Smuts' proposals for the League's structure included a Council with permanent seats for major powers and non-permanent seats for other states, not equal representation for all.

Explanation: During its initial creation phase in 1919-1920, the League of Nations' staff was temporarily located in London before moving to its permanent headquarters in Geneva.

Explanation: The League of Nations was structured around three primary bodies: the Assembly (representing all members), the Council (representing major powers), and the Permanent Secretariat (administrative arm).

Explanation: Switzerland's neutrality, Geneva's central location in Europe, and its democratic governance were key factors contributing to its selection as the League's headquarters.

Explanation: The official languages of the League of Nations were French and English, reflecting the primary diplomatic languages of the era.

Explanation: The League of Nations reached its maximum membership of 58 states between September 1934 and February 1935.

Explanation: A key procedural difference was that the League Council operated under a unanimity rule, whereas the UN Security Council employs majority voting (with veto power for permanent members).

Explanation: Jan Smuts' influential proposals included the establishment of a Council with permanent membership for major powers, shaping the League's governance structure.

Explanation: The League of Nations' administrative staff was initially based in London during the organization's formative period before relocating to Geneva.

Explanation: The Assembly served as the League's plenary organ, providing a forum for all member states to discuss and vote on issues.

Explanation: Geneva's reputation for neutrality, its central European position, and Switzerland's democratic governance made it a suitable and logical choice for the League's headquarters.

Explanation: The official languages utilized for communication and documentation within the League of Nations were French and English.

Explanation: The League of Nations reached its maximum membership of 58 states between September 1934 and February 1935.

Explanation: A key procedural distinction was the League Council's unanimity requirement, contrasting with the UN Security Council's majority voting system, albeit with veto powers for permanent members.

Explanation: The League of Nations resolved the Åland Islands dispute by recommending that the islands remain part of Finland, with guarantees for demilitarization and autonomy, not by awarding them to Sweden.

Explanation: Following a plebiscite and subsequent unrest, the League of Nations recommended and oversaw the division of Upper Silesia between Poland and Germany, successfully de-escalating the conflict.

Explanation: While Greece appealed to the League regarding the Corfu incident, the decision was largely deferred to the Conference of Ambassadors, and the League did not decisively impose sanctions on Italy.

Explanation: After Lithuania's seizure of Memel in 1923, the League of Nations recommended granting the territory to Lithuania while ensuring autonomous rights for its population.

Explanation: In the Mosul dispute, the League of Nations awarded the region to Iraq in 1925, a decision largely upheld by international bodies.

Explanation: To facilitate negotiations between Colombia and Peru over the Leticia territory, the League of Nations temporarily assumed administrative control following a provisional peace agreement.

Explanation: The Saar Basin plebiscite in 1935 showed overwhelming support (90.3%) for reunification with Germany, leading to the League Council approving the transfer.

Explanation: Following a border incident and Greek invasion, the League of Nations condemned Greece's actions and mediated a peaceful resolution, including compensation to Bulgaria, demonstrating effectiveness in de-escalating the conflict.

Explanation: The League of Nations failed to prevent the Chaco War, as both belligerents initially refused mediation, and the conflict persisted despite later League interventions.

Explanation: The economic sanctions applied against Italy were criticized for not including crucial commodities like oil and for failing to deter Italy's conquest of Abyssinia.

Explanation: The League recommended that the Åland Islands remain part of Finland, provided they were demilitarized and guaranteed autonomy, marking a significant early success in international dispute resolution.

Explanation: In the Corfu incident, the League's authority was limited, and the final resolution of the dispute was largely handled by the Conference of Ambassadors.

Explanation: Following Lithuania's occupation of Memel, the League proposed a solution granting Lithuania sovereignty over the territory while ensuring autonomous rights for its inhabitants.

Explanation: The League of Nations resolved the Mosul dispute by awarding the territory to Iraq in 1925, a decision that largely determined the final border.

Explanation: The League mediated the Colombia-Peru dispute over Leticia by taking temporary administrative control of the territory, enabling bilateral negotiations that led to a peaceful resolution.

Explanation: The 1935 plebiscite in the Saar Basin resulted in an overwhelming vote (90.3%) in favor of rejoining Germany, which was subsequently approved by the League Council.

Explanation: The League successfully intervened in the 1925 Greece-Bulgaria conflict, condemning Greece's invasion and facilitating a peaceful resolution through mediation.

Explanation: The League's inability to prevent the Chaco War stemmed partly from the initial refusal of both Bolivia and Paraguay to accept mediation, highlighting limitations in enforcing peace.

Explanation: The League's sanctions against Italy were notably incomplete, as they failed to prohibit the trade of vital war materials such as oil, thus limiting their effectiveness.

Explanation: The League of Nations lacked its own standing army and relied on the willingness of member states, particularly the major powers, to enforce its decisions, which proved to be a significant limitation.

Explanation: Benito Mussolini famously critiqued the League, suggesting it was only effective against weaker nations and powerless when major powers were in conflict.

Explanation: The absence of the United States and the withdrawal of key member states significantly weakened the League's authority and its capacity to enforce collective security.

Explanation: Henry Cabot Lodge led the opposition in the U.S. Senate, which ultimately prevented the ratification of the treaty and thus the United States' membership in the League of Nations.

Explanation: The Mukden Incident, involving Japanese aggression, severely undermined the League's credibility due to its inability to take effective action against Japan, which subsequently withdrew from the organization.

Explanation: The principle of unanimity required for decisions in the League Council granted significant power to individual states, often paralyzing the organization and preventing decisive action.

Explanation: The unanimity rule for decisions in the League Council is widely cited as a major structural weakness that contributed to its frequent inability to take decisive action.

Explanation: The League's inability to enforce its decisions was significantly hampered by its lack of an independent military force, requiring reliance on member states' contributions.

Explanation: Mussolini's analogy implied that the League possessed authority over minor states ('sparrows') but lacked power when confronted by major aggressors ('eagles').

Explanation: The absence of the U.S. and the departure of key nations like Japan and Germany severely eroded the League's authority and effectiveness during the critical interwar period.

Explanation: Opposition within the U.S. Senate, particularly regarding the reservation of Congress's power to declare war, prevented the ratification of the Treaty of Versailles and thus U.S. membership in the League.

Explanation: The League's ineffective response to the Mukden Incident, which involved Japanese aggression in Manchuria, significantly damaged its credibility and led to Japan's withdrawal.

Explanation: The unanimity rule for Council decisions meant that any single member could block a resolution, frequently leading to inaction and indecisiveness.

Explanation: The requirement for unanimous decisions within the League Council significantly hampered its ability to act decisively, often leading to inaction even in critical situations.

Explanation: An investigation commissioned by the League of Nations confirmed the existence of slavery and forced labor practices in Liberia, prompting reforms and governmental changes.

Explanation: The assassination of King Alexander I in 1934 prompted the League of Nations to convene the first international discussion on terrorism, establishing precedents for global responses.

Explanation: The League of Nations contributed to the development of international fiscal cooperation by formulating principles to prevent double taxation, thereby facilitating economic relations.

Explanation: The Nansen passport, established by the League of Nations, provided a crucial form of identification for stateless refugees, enabling them to navigate borders and access essential services.

Explanation: Through its Slavery Commission, the League of Nations exerted pressure on member states and mandated territories, contributing to the abolition of slavery and forced labor and the suppression of the slave trade.

Explanation: The League of Nations implemented regulatory mechanisms, including import certificate systems, to control the international trade in opium and other narcotics.

Explanation: The League promoted international intellectual cooperation through dedicated committees and initiatives focused on cultural exchange and scholarly collaboration, not military alliances.

Explanation: The ILO, an autonomous body linked to the League, actively worked towards improving labor conditions globally, including advocating for regulations on hazardous substances like lead and promoting rights for women in the workplace.

Explanation: The League's Health Organisation engaged in broader global health initiatives, coordinating campaigns against diseases worldwide and collaborating internationally, not solely focusing on Europe.

Explanation: The League's work on taxation focused on establishing principles to prevent double taxation and facilitate economic cooperation, rather than imposing global taxes.

Explanation: An investigation conducted under the League of Nations confirmed the presence of slavery and forced labor practices within Liberia.

Explanation: The League's discussions on terrorism following the assassination established early principles for international cooperation in surveillance and cross-border actions against terrorist threats.

Explanation: The League of Nations played a foundational role in international fiscal cooperation by formulating principles aimed at preventing double taxation between states.

Explanation: The Nansen passport provided a vital travel document and form of identification for stateless refugees, facilitating their movement and integration.

Explanation: The League actively worked against slavery and forced labor through investigations, diplomatic pressure, and the supervision of reforms in affected regions.

Explanation: The League implemented regulatory frameworks, including import/export controls, to manage and restrict the international trade in narcotics.

Explanation: The ILO played a crucial role in setting international labor standards, advocating for fair working conditions, and promoting workers' rights globally.

Explanation: The League's Health Organisation actively coordinated international efforts to combat major diseases and improve public health worldwide.

Explanation: While the League's effectiveness waned significantly with the onset of World War II, it formally ceased operations in April 1946, after the war's conclusion.

Explanation: Disarmament efforts under the League were largely unsuccessful, failing to halt the military build-up of major powers in the lead-up to World War II, although some specific agreements, like the ban on poison gas, were achieved.

Explanation: The Draft Treaty of Mutual Assistance proposed in 1923 sought to establish a system of collective security by making aggressive war illegal and mandating mutual defense for member states.

Explanation: The Geneva Protocol of 1924 was not adopted primarily because the United Kingdom vetoed it, citing concerns about imperial commitments and potential conflicts with the United States.

Explanation: The World Disarmament Conference of 1932 concluded without achieving significant disarmament agreements, failing to curb the escalating military preparations of major global powers.

Explanation: While economic factors played a role in the interwar period, the League's ultimate demise is primarily attributed to its failure to prevent the outbreak of World War II.

Explanation: While the League achieved limited success, such as the ban on poison gas, its broader disarmament initiatives failed to prevent the escalating arms race leading to World War II.

Explanation: The Draft Treaty of Mutual Assistance was an early attempt to formalize collective security by prohibiting aggressive war and establishing mutual defense obligations among signatories.

Explanation: The United Kingdom's opposition, primarily due to concerns about its imperial responsibilities and potential conflicts with the United States, led to the failure of the Geneva Protocol.

Explanation: The World Disarmament Conference failed to achieve its objectives, unable to prevent the escalating military build-up among major powers in the years preceding World War II.

Explanation: The League's ultimate failure to avert World War II is widely considered the principal reason for its demise and subsequent dissolution.

Explanation: Following the dissolution of the League of Nations, the United Nations was established in 1945, inheriting many of its functions and serving as its successor organization.

Explanation: Scholarly consensus acknowledges that the League of Nations, despite its shortcomings, played a crucial role in developing and promoting the principle of collective security as a means to maintain international peace.

Explanation: The mandate system was intended to guide territories toward eventual self-governance and independence, but it did not grant immediate independence and was criticized by some as a form of disguised colonialism.

Explanation: The historical archives of the League of Nations, now housed within the United Nations system, have been recognized by UNESCO for their significant global importance.

Explanation: Philip Noel-Baker, reflecting on the League's failures, concluded that appeasement and prioritizing national interests over collective security were detrimental to peace.

Explanation: The Permanent Mandates Commission was tasked with supervising the administration of mandate territories by the mandatory powers, ensuring they adhered to the principles of guiding these territories towards eventual self-governance, not immediate independence.

Explanation: The mandate classifications (A, B, C) reflected varying degrees of perceived readiness for self-governance. 'A' mandates, typically former Ottoman territories, were considered the most advanced, provisionally recognized as independent nations requiring administrative guidance.

Explanation: The United Nations was established in 1945 and assumed many of the functions and responsibilities of the League of Nations following its dissolution.

Explanation: Despite its failures, the League provided an unprecedented platform for smaller nations to participate in international diplomacy and voice their concerns.

Explanation: Critics argued that the mandate system, while ostensibly aimed at preparing territories for self-governance, functioned similarly to traditional colonialism.

Explanation: The League contributed to the development of international law and provided an unprecedented forum for smaller states to engage in global diplomacy.

Explanation: The Permanent Mandates Commission was established to oversee the administration of territories assigned under the mandate system, ensuring compliance with League principles.

Explanation: Mandates classified as 'A' were designated for communities formerly belonging to the Ottoman Empire, recognized as having reached a stage where they could be provisionally independent, subject to administrative guidance.