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{{short description |Joseph Avenol was Secretary General of the League of Nations}}
{{Short description|Second Secretary General of the League of Nations}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox Secretary-General
{{Infobox Secretary-General
|name = Joseph Avenol
| name = Joseph Avenol
|image = Joseph Avenol 1932.jpg
| image = Joseph Avenol 1932.jpg
|imagesize = 200px
| imagesize = 200px
|alt =
| alt =
|caption =
| caption = Avenol in 1932
|office = [[Secretary-General of the League of Nations]]
| office = [[Secretary-General of the League of Nations]]
|term_start = 3 July 1933
| term_start = 3 July 1933
|term_end = 31 August 1940
| term_end = 31 August 1940
|deputy = Frank Walters
| deputy = [[Francis Paul Walters|Frank Walters]]
|predecessor = [[Eric Drummond, 7th Earl of Perth|Eric Drummond]]
| predecessor = [[Eric Drummond, 7th Earl of Perth|Eric Drummond]]
|successor = [[Seán Lester]]
| successor = [[Seán Lester]]
|office1 = [[Deputy Secretary-General of the League of Nations]]
| office1 = [[Deputy Secretary-General of the League of Nations]]
|term_start1 = 1 February 1923
| term_start1 = 1 February 1923
|term_end1 = 1 July 1933
| term_end1 = 1 July 1933
|1blankname1 = {{nowrap|Secretary-General}}
| 1blankname1 = {{nowrap|Secretary-General}}
|1namedata1 = Eric Drummond
| 1namedata1 = Eric Drummond
|predecessor1 = [[Jean Monnet]]
| predecessor1 = [[Jean Monnet]]
|successor1 = [[Pablo de Azcárate]]
| successor1 = [[Pablo de Azcárate]]
|birth_name = Joseph Louis Anne Marie Charles Avenol
| birth_name = Joseph Louis Anne Marie Charles Avenol
|birth_date = {{birth date|1879|6|9|df=y}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1879|6|9|df=y}}
|birth_place = [[Melle, Deux-Sèvres]], [[French Third Republic]]
| birth_place = [[Melle, Deux-Sèvres]], [[French Third Republic]]
|death_date = {{death date and age|1952|9|2|1879|6|9|df=y}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1952|9|2|1879|6|9|df=y}}
|death_place = [[Duillier]], [[Switzerland]]
| death_place = [[Duillier]], [[Switzerland]]
|restingplace =
| restingplace =
|nationality = French
| nationality = French
|party =
| party =
|otherparty =
| otherparty =
|spouse =
| spouse =
|relations =
| relations =
|children =
| children =
|alma_mater =
| alma_mater =
|profession = Banker
| profession = Banker
|signature =
| signature =
|signature_alt=
| signature_alt =
|website =
| website =
|footnotes =
| footnotes =
}}
}}


'''Joseph Louis Anne Marie Charles Avenol''' ({{IPA-fr|ʒɔzɛf lwi an avnɔl|pron}}; 9 June 1879 – 2 September 1952) was a French diplomat. He served as the second [[Secretary General]] of the [[League of Nations]] from 3 July 1933 to 31 August 1940. He was preceded by Sir [[Eric Drummond, 7th Earl of Perth|Eric Drummond]] of the United Kingdom, who was general secretary between 1920 and 1933. He was succeeded by the Irish diplomat [[Seán Lester]], who was general secretary between 1940 and 1946, when the League dissolved.<ref>James Barros, ''Betrayal from Within: Joseph Avenol, Secretary-General of the League of Nations, 1933-1940'' (1969).</ref>
'''Joseph Louis Anne Marie Charles Avenol''' ({{IPA|fr|ʒozɛf lwi an maʁi ʃaʁl avnɔl|lang}}; 9 June 1879 – 2 September 1952) was a French diplomat. He served as the second [[Secretary General]] of the [[League of Nations]] from 3 July 1933 to 31 August 1940. He was preceded by Sir [[Eric Drummond, 7th Earl of Perth|Eric Drummond]] of the United Kingdom, who was general secretary between 1920 and 1933. He was succeeded by the Irish diplomat [[Seán Lester]], who was general secretary between 1940 and 1946, when the League dissolved.<ref>James Barros, ''Betrayal from Within: Joseph Avenol, Secretary-General of the League of Nations, 1933-1940'' (1969).</ref>


==League of Nations==
==League of Nations==
Line 46: Line 46:


Avenol took office shortly after Japan had left the League. Shortly thereafter Germany also left, and Argentina resumed full membership. He worked to prevent action or criticism of those countries in an effort to lure them back to the League. When Italy [[Second Italo-Abyssinian War|invaded Ethiopia]] in 1935, Avenol's main concern was to keep the Italians in the organization, not to protect Ethiopia. In 1939 he encouraged Finland to file a complaint so that the League could expel the Soviet Union.
Avenol took office shortly after Japan had left the League. Shortly thereafter Germany also left, and Argentina resumed full membership. He worked to prevent action or criticism of those countries in an effort to lure them back to the League. When Italy [[Second Italo-Abyssinian War|invaded Ethiopia]] in 1935, Avenol's main concern was to keep the Italians in the organization, not to protect Ethiopia. In 1939 he encouraged Finland to file a complaint so that the League could expel the Soviet Union.
[[File:GraveJosephAvenol-CimetiereDeDuillier RomanDeckert12102023.jpg|thumb|Avenol's grave in Duillier.]]

Later Avenol described "a new France, which was to be given a new soul to work in collaboration with Germany and Italy and keep the British out of Europe". He wrote to Marshal [[Philippe Pétain]] to affirm his loyalty to the [[Vichy France|Vichy government]].
Later Avenol described "a new France, which was to be given a new soul to work in collaboration with Germany and Italy and keep the British out of Europe". He wrote to Marshal [[Philippe Pétain]] to affirm his loyalty to the [[Vichy France|Vichy government]].


==Last years and death==
==Last years and death==
In the meantime, he had fired most of the League's staff, including all of the British employees. When [[World War II]] started on 1 September 1939, Avenol had decided to leave [[Geneva]] and the League of Nations for good on 31 August 1940. His services were not accepted by the Vichy government, and he was forced to flee back into Switzerland on [[New Year's Eve]] 1943 to avoid getting arrested or killed by the Germans. He died at his home in [[Duillier]], Switzerland, in 1952, aged 73.
In the meantime, he had fired most of the League's staff, including all of the British employees. When [[World War II]] started on 1 September 1939, Avenol had decided to leave [[Geneva]] and the League of Nations for good on 31 August 1940. His services were not accepted by the Vichy government, and he was forced to flee back into Switzerland on [[New Year's Eve]] 1943 to avoid getting arrested by the Germans. He died at his home in [[Duillier]], Switzerland, in 1952, aged 73.


When [[Seán Lester]] replaced him as secretary-general, the League had only 100 employees, including guards and janitors, of its original 700. Lester managed to keep the League's technical and humanitarian programs in limited operation for the duration of the war. In 1946 he turned over the League's assets and functions to the newly-established [[United Nations]].
When [[Seán Lester]] replaced him as secretary-general, the League had only 100 employees, including guards and janitors, out of its original 700. Lester managed to keep the League's technical and humanitarian programs in limited operation for the duration of the war. In 1946 he turned over the League's assets and functions to the newly-established [[United Nations]].


==Honours==
==Honours==
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* Avenol, Joseph. "The Future of the League of Nations." ''International Affairs'' 13.2 (1934): 143-158. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/2603134 online]
* Avenol, Joseph. "The Future of the League of Nations." ''International Affairs'' 13.2 (1934): 143-158. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/2603134 online]
*Barros, James, ''Betrayal from Within: Joseph Avenol, Secretary-General of the League of Nations, 1933-1940''. New Haven, Ct.: Yale University Press, 1969. {{ISBN|0-300-01112-1}}.
*Barros, James, ''Betrayal from Within: Joseph Avenol, Secretary-General of the League of Nations, 1933-1940''. New Haven, Ct.: Yale University Press, 1969. {{ISBN|0-300-01112-1}}.
⚫
*Marbeau Michel, ''La Société des Nations. Vers un monde multilatéral : (1919-1946)'', Presses Universitaires François Rabelais, mars 2017, 320 p.

⚫
*Marbeau Michel, "Réflexions sur un haut fonctionnaire français devenu Secrétaire général de la Société des Nations", ''Relations internationales'', n°75, automne 1993, pp. 345-361.
⚫
Marbeau Michel, ''La Société des Nations. Vers un monde multilatéral : (1919-1946)'', Presses Universitaires François Rabelais, mars 2017, 320 p.

⚫
Marbeau Michel, "Réflexions sur un haut fonctionnaire français devenu Secrétaire général de la Société des Nations", ''Relations internationales'', n°75, automne 1993, pp. 345-361.


==External links==
==External links==
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before={{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Eric Drummond, 7th Earl of Perth|Sir Eric Drummond]]|
before={{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Eric Drummond, 7th Earl of Perth|Sir Eric Drummond]]|
title=[[League of Nations|Secretary-General of the League of Nations]]|
title=[[League of Nations|Secretary-General of the League of Nations]]|
years=1933-1940|
years=1933–1940|
after={{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Seán Lester]]}}
after={{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Seán Lester]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}
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[[Category:1879 births]]
[[Category:1879 births]]
[[Category:1952 deaths]]
[[Category:1952 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Deux-Sèvres]]
[[Category:People from Melle, Deux-Sèvres]]
⚫
[[Category:Secretaries general of the League of Nations]]
[[Category:Honorary Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Honorary Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire]]
⚫
[[Category:Secretaries General of the League of Nations]]

Latest revision as of 15:31, 17 November 2024

Joseph Avenol
Avenol in 1932
Secretary-General of the League of Nations
In office
3 July 1933 – 31 August 1940
DeputyFrank Walters
Preceded byEric Drummond
Succeeded bySeán Lester
Deputy Secretary-General of the League of Nations
In office
1 February 1923 – 1 July 1933
Secretary-GeneralEric Drummond
Preceded byJean Monnet
Succeeded byPablo de Azcárate
Personal details
Born
Joseph Louis Anne Marie Charles Avenol

(1879-06-09)9 June 1879
Melle, Deux-Sèvres, French Third Republic
Died2 September 1952(1952-09-02) (aged 73)
Duillier, Switzerland
NationalityFrench
ProfessionBanker

Joseph Louis Anne Marie Charles Avenol (French: [ʒozɛf lwi an maʁi ʃaʁl avnɔl]; 9 June 1879 – 2 September 1952) was a French diplomat. He served as the second Secretary General of the League of Nations from 3 July 1933 to 31 August 1940. He was preceded by Sir Eric Drummond of the United Kingdom, who was general secretary between 1920 and 1933. He was succeeded by the Irish diplomat Seán Lester, who was general secretary between 1940 and 1946, when the League dissolved.[1]

League of Nations

[edit]

Avenol was sent to the League of Nations from the French Treasury Department in 1922 to handle the League's finances. He was under secretary-general in 1933, when Eric Drummond resigned. He became secretary-general because the first secretary-general had been British and there had been a private agreement at Versailles that the next would be French. Avenol was accused of using the League as an extension of the French Foreign Office in its policy of appeasement of Germany and Italy.

Avenol took office shortly after Japan had left the League. Shortly thereafter Germany also left, and Argentina resumed full membership. He worked to prevent action or criticism of those countries in an effort to lure them back to the League. When Italy invaded Ethiopia in 1935, Avenol's main concern was to keep the Italians in the organization, not to protect Ethiopia. In 1939 he encouraged Finland to file a complaint so that the League could expel the Soviet Union.

Avenol's grave in Duillier.

Later Avenol described "a new France, which was to be given a new soul to work in collaboration with Germany and Italy and keep the British out of Europe". He wrote to Marshal Philippe Pétain to affirm his loyalty to the Vichy government.

Last years and death

[edit]

In the meantime, he had fired most of the League's staff, including all of the British employees. When World War II started on 1 September 1939, Avenol had decided to leave Geneva and the League of Nations for good on 31 August 1940. His services were not accepted by the Vichy government, and he was forced to flee back into Switzerland on New Year's Eve 1943 to avoid getting arrested by the Germans. He died at his home in Duillier, Switzerland, in 1952, aged 73.

When Seán Lester replaced him as secretary-general, the League had only 100 employees, including guards and janitors, out of its original 700. Lester managed to keep the League's technical and humanitarian programs in limited operation for the duration of the war. In 1946 he turned over the League's assets and functions to the newly-established United Nations.

Honours

[edit]

In 1921, he was created an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ James Barros, Betrayal from Within: Joseph Avenol, Secretary-General of the League of Nations, 1933-1940 (1969).

References

[edit]
  • Avenol, Joseph. "The Future of the League of Nations." International Affairs 13.2 (1934): 143-158. online
  • Barros, James, Betrayal from Within: Joseph Avenol, Secretary-General of the League of Nations, 1933-1940. New Haven, Ct.: Yale University Press, 1969. ISBN 0-300-01112-1.
  • Marbeau Michel, La Société des Nations. Vers un monde multilatéral : (1919-1946), Presses Universitaires François Rabelais, mars 2017, 320 p.
  • Marbeau Michel, "Réflexions sur un haut fonctionnaire français devenu Secrétaire général de la Société des Nations", Relations internationales, n°75, automne 1993, pp. 345-361.
[edit]
Positions in intergovernmental organisations
Preceded by Secretary-General of the League of Nations
1933–1940 		Succeeded by
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