- Inability to Address Major Powers:
- Manchuria Crisis (1931): Japan’s invasion ignored by the League due to its veto power and economic limitations of other powers.
- Abyssinia Crisis (1935): League’s ineffective sanctions against Italy, influenced by British and French appeasement.
- Limited Membership and Authority:
- Exclusion of key nations (e.g., USA, USSR) undermined legitimacy.
- Seen as a tool of victorious Allied Powers post-Versailles Treaty.
- Structural Weaknesses:
- Lack of an army and dependence on member states for enforcement.
- Provisions like the veto power and unanimous decisions hindered effective action.
- Economic constraints due to the Great Depression affected funding and participation.
- Failure of Major Conferences:
- World Disarmament Conference (1932-1933): Inability to achieve disarmament led to mistrust among nations.
- Weak Covenant and Overruling by Other Bodies:
- Article 16 allowed members to opt out of military support.
- Decisions by the Conference of Ambassadors overruled League decisions, exemplified in the Corfu Crisis (1923).
CORFU CRISIS (1923)
- Incident: Border dispute between Albania and Greece leading to Italian invasion.
- League’s Role: Condemned Italy but ultimately powerless to enforce its decision, leading to Greece conceding to Italian demands due to external pressure.