Why did unanimity sometimes cause delays in the League of Nations Council?

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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, the requirement for unanimity among Council members meant that, with the exception of parties directly involved in a dispute, all substantive decisions required the agreement of every member present.1

While actual instances of a formal veto or complete deadlock were rare, this structural requirement often caused the Council to favor compromise or delay rather than reaching clear-cut decisions. Because any member could theoretically block a proposal, the Council frequently sought to avoid confrontation, leading to a more cautious and time-consuming deliberative process.1