How did the League of Nations respond to Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia?

The League of Nations responded to Italy’s 1935 invasion of Ethiopia by condemning the aggression and voting to impose economic sanctions on Italy. Under British leadership, most member states agreed to halt the export of arms and raw materials, cease financial credit, and stop imports from Italian sources.12

These measures initially showed promise, but their effectiveness was undermined by a lack of sustained support from major powers. The effort was ultimately sabotaged by the British and French governments, who secretly proposed the Hoare-Laval Pact—a plan to grant Italy most of Ethiopia in exchange for a truce.123

When this plan was leaked, it faced widespread condemnation, but the damage to the League’s credibility was irreparable. As Italy completed its conquest in 1936, the League ended the sanctions. This failure demonstrated the organization's inability to enforce its own Covenant when faced with the interests of major powers, marking a significant step toward the collapse of the League and the onset of World War II.3412