Question

How did Mussolini's invasion of Ethiopia sign the death warrant for the League of Nations?

I know that the league did not want to risk global hostilities by interfering, but how did this lead to its demise? Can someone elaborate?

Answer 1

The whole point of the League of Nations was to resolve conflicts in a public forum and to prevent war, but it really had little power with which to enforce anything that it said. It was a paper tiger -- good at making condemnations and speeches, but possessing little to no means of actually doing anything about it.

That's what Ethiopia's ruler found out when he appealed to the League. At first the League condemned Italy and applied sanctions. But when Italy proved victorious, they ignored Ethiopia's pleas and eventually sided with the Italians, lifted sanctions that were applied to them because of the war, and recognized their conquest. The League essentially threw Ethiopia under a bus.

Answer 2

Thanks, I really do like your response as it provides insight to the matter.