The League of Nations faced challenges from the beginning.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2022). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] Polish troops seized Vilna in Lithuania.
2. [1] Lithuania appealed to the League of Nations over Vilna.
3. [1] The League of Nations told the Polish troops to leave Vilna.
4. [1] The League of Nations tried to arrange a plebiscite to decide Vilna's future.
5. [1] The Polish government agreed to the plebiscite at first but then changed its mind.
6. [1] The Poles refused to leave Vilna.
7. [1] Decision making processes were slow.
8. [1] Votes in the Council or Assembly had to be unanimous.
9. [1] The Council and Assembly only met once a year.
10. [1] It was difficult to take decisive action.
11. [1] Britain and France often disagreed on action.
12. [1] A small state could hold up a vital decision.
13. [1] It did not have an army.
14. [1] Manchuria was too far away.
15. [1] Britain and France were slow to act over Abyssinia to keep Mussolini onside.
16. [Level 3/4 explanation example] The League was often slow to act because decisions made by the council had to be unanimous to be carried. When the Council or Assembly met to vote on aggressive action by a country, it would take just one negative vote for the motion to fail. This obviously made it difficult to take decisive action against a country that decided to disturb the peace.
17. [1] Mussolini undermined the League in the Corfu Crisis.
18. [1] He showed that the League would give way to a major power.
19. [1] The invasion of Abyssinia showed how weak the League was.
20. [1] Sanctions were not effective.
21. [1] Britain and France agreed the Hoare-Laval Pact.
22. [1] They were unwilling to use force to stop Mussolini.
23. [1] Britain and France put economic interests first.
24. [Level 3 explanation example - Italy more to blame] Italy was more to blame. Mussolini undermined the authority of the League in 1923 when he persuaded the Conference of Ambassadors to change the League's ruling. This showed the League could be intimidated by one of the major powers. His invasion of Abyssinia underlined the League's weakness as members would not impose sanctions which would hit their own industries.
25. [Level 3 explanation example - Britain and France more to blame] Britain and France were more to blame as they failed to take action to prevent Mussolini's aggression. They tried to find a solution to the Abyssinian Crisis. This involved the Hoare–Laval Pact, which was leaked to the press, and showed they were not willing to take tough action to stop Mussolini. Therefore they are more to blame.