Final answer:
In 1935, Italy invaded Ethiopia, and was condemned by the League of Nations, which approved sanctions. However, these sanctions were undermined by a lack of enforcement and a secret deal between major European powers. The League's lack of military power and the exclusion of key resources from sanctions made them ineffective, resulting in Ethiopia's conquest by Italy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Italian Invasion of Ethiopia and the League of Nations' Reaction
In 1935, Italy invaded Ethiopia, an act of aggression that was swiftly condemned by the League of Nations. Despite identifying Italy as the aggressor and approving sanctions, the League's actions were undermined due to several factors. Among these was a secret agreement between France and the United Kingdom that allowed Italy to continue its conquest, with these major nations hence not fully supporting the imposition of sanctions. Additionally, the League lacked a military force to enforce any of its decisions, and essential resources like coal and oil were not included in the sanctions, rendering them ineffective. This lack of real power was part of a pattern of the League's failure to prevent acts of aggression during the 1930s, highlighting its inability to influence global affairs significantly.
As a result of such weaknesses, the sanctions imposed by the League did little to deter Italy. Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie sought help from the League, but the response was limited to verbal support and inadequate sanctions that failed to stop the Italian military equipped with modern tanks and planes. By 1936, with little resistance from the weakened European democracies, Ethiopia had been conquered by Italy, marking a stark demonstration of the League's ineffectiveness in maintaining international peace and security.