历史小径·世界史英语30篇（4）

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国际联盟：战后的希望

Created in 1920 after World War I, the League aimed to prevent future conflicts through diplomacy and collective security.
It had no army of its own and depended on member nations to enforce decisions — a serious weakness from the start.
It successfully settled minor border disputes between Finland and Sweden, and Greece and Bulgaria.
But when Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931, the League condemned the action yet took no meaningful action.
Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia in 1935 exposed deeper flaws — major powers refused to risk trade or peace for distant justice.
Germany, Japan, and Italy all withdrew from the League in the 1930s, showing how little authority it truly held.
Though it failed to stop World War II, its structure and ideals directly inspired the United Nations after 1945.
Its story reminds us that good intentions need real power, fairness, and consistent commitment to succeed.