How did the Paris Peace Conference create the Covenant of the League of Nations?

The Paris Peace Conference created the Covenant of the League of Nations through a structured process of committee work and international negotiation. Driven by a strong public demand to prevent the recurrence of the destruction seen in World War I, the conference appointed a specialized commission to draft the document.12

Under the leadership of Woodrow Wilson, the committee drafted the Covenant in a few days of intensive work. A preliminary draft was published on February 14, 1919, to allow for international scrutiny and criticism. Following this period of review, the conference adopted a final, amended version of the 26-article document by unanimous decision on April 28, 1919.32

The Covenant served as the constitutional foundation for the League of Nations, establishing its directing organs, such as the Assembly and Council, and defining its core principles, including collective security, arbitration, and disarmament. It formally came into force on January 10, 1920, alongside the Treaty of Versailles.31