How did smaller countries participate in the League of Nations Assembly?

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Delegates in formal attire seated closely together at an international League of Nations conference, circa 1930. — League of Nations Delegates attending a League of Nations meeting, c. 1930.

In the League of Nations Assembly, smaller countries were granted equal rights and opportunities to be heard, placing them on the same footing as great powers. The Assembly functioned with the spirit of a parliament, allowing all member nations to participate in discussions regarding any aspect of international relations.1

Smaller powers utilized the Assembly as a platform to make their voices effectively heard, particularly regarding disarmament, where they frequently expressed dissatisfaction with the policies pursued by the great powers and the Council.1

Participation was structured through committee meetings where every delegation was represented. Because these committee sessions were held in public, they served as the primary venue for debate; consequently, most conclusions were adopted in the plenary Assembly with minimal formal speech-making. While the Assembly required unanimity for decisions—theoretically allowing any member to exercise a veto—it became customary for nations that disagreed with majority proposals to voice their opposition during committee meetings and subsequently abstain from voting in the Assembly to avoid deadlock.1