Working Language

The period between the two world wars saw the rise of English. When the League of Nations was set up under the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 following the First World War, it adopted two official languages: English and French (Spanish was added in 1920). English is sometimes said to have been added as a result of one of the League’s main proponents, US President Woodrow Wilson, not speaking French (note that the US did not in the end join the organization because of political opposition at home).

• The period between the two world wars saw the rise of English. When the League of Nations was set up under the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 following the First World War, it adopted two official languages: English and French (Spanish was added in 1920). English is sometimes said to have been added as a result of one of the League’s main proponents, US President Woodrow Wilson, not speaking French (note that the US did not in the end join the organization because of political opposition at home).