They didnt have the strength to carry out any of the edicts they passed. Since America declined to be a part (and embarked on a period of isolationalism) it meant that nobody had the military strength to enforce anything. Compare to the UN which is pretty much the same and you can see how a strong military can make all the difference.

Many hotspots around the world require a military presence to "calm" the population before anything can be done, while at the same time a strong backing can prevent hostilities erupting.