ORGANS OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS

The League of Nations had a number of Organs, Commissions and Committees to implement its aims and objectives.
1. The General Assembly
The general assembly met annually and comprised of representatives of all member states. All independent states were eligible to be members of the general assembly. Every member state was to send up to 3 delegates but each state would have only 1 vote. The General Assembly formulates general policy guidelines for the League of Nations and discusses the budget prepared by the council generally, the assembly discusses international social, economic and political matters that were likely to endanger world peace.
2. The Council
The council was the executive arm of the League of Nations. It's delegates consisted of 4 permanent members from the big powers i.e. Britain, France, Italy and Japan and 9 other non permanent members and adhoc representatives. However, other permanent members were later admitted with approval of the assembly and the council. The council was a smaller organ that met more frequently, at least three times a year. It handled more urgent matters with a unanimous decision i.e. it's decision were to be accepted by all delegates.
3. The Permanent court of international justice
This was a Court of appeal with 15 Judges of different nationalities. It was launched on 15th Feb 1922 and worked up to October 1945. Its Judges were elected by the General assembly and the council. The primary role of the permanent Court of International Justice was to settle legal disputes amongst member states with the hope of maintaining peace, stability and natural Justice. It also had powers to advice the general assembly and council on legal issues. By 1939, the court had settled 70 major cases and successfully organized 400 International treaties. There w^ no provision for appeal against court decision although the court could review its own Judgment basing on evidence brought before it. The headquarter of the court was at Hague in Holland where the idea was born in 1899 by Tsar Nicholas II of Russia.
4. The Secretariat.
The Secretariat was the administrative organ of the League of Nations. It was based in Geneva and led by a secretary general who was appointed by the Council and approved by the assembly. Its staff was appointed by the Secretary General in consultation with the council. The secretariat operated throughout the year and its staff was permanently employed. The work of the secretariat was to co-ordinate all activities and other organs of the League of Nations. This includes; preparing agendas, resolutions and reports for submission to the general assembly and the council. The cost of running the secretariat was paid by member states.,
In addition to the above organs, the League had commissions and committees to handle specific and miscellaneous issues. For instance, there "were commissions for labour, health, disarmament, minority groups, economic and financial organisation, refugees, children, women rights, mandate and drug trafficking. These supplemented the other organs in executing the role of the League in Europe.