Today in History: League of Nations imposed ineffective sanctions on Italy for raid on Ethiopia
The sanctions did not prohibit the provision of several vital materials, such as oil, and were not carried out by all members of the League.
On this day in 1935, the League of Nations voted to impose subsequently ineffectual economic sanctions against fascist Italy for its invasion of Ethiopia (referred to as Abyssinia in Europe).
Twelve days prior, on 7 October 1935, in what would come to be known as the Riddell Incident, the League of Nations declared Italy to be the aggressor, and started the slow process of imposing sanctions on Italy (which were officially imposed on 19 October). The sanctions were limited, however.
The United States, generally indifferent to the League of Nations’ weak sanctions, increased its exports to Italy, and the United Kingdom and France did not take any serious action against Italy, such as blocking Italian access to the Suez Canal. Even Italy’s use of chemical weapons and other actions that violated international norms did little to change the League’s passive approach to the situation.
Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie was eventually forced into exile on 2 May 1936. All the sanctions that had been put in place by the League were dropped after the Italian capture of the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa on the 5 May 1936. Ethiopia was then merged with the other Italian colonies to become Italian East Africa (Africa Orientale Italiana, or AOI).
The end of the AOI came quickly during World War II, however. In early 1941, as part of the East African Campaign, Allied forces launched offensive actions against the isolated Italian colony. On 5 May 1941, five years after the Italians had captured his capital, Emperor Haile Selassie entered Addis Ababa once again.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at northsider@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
For free daily local news on the West Rand, also visit our sister newspaper websites
