Editing Italian East Africa (section)

=== League of Nations ===
{{main|League of Nations|Abyssinia Crisis}}
Since 28 September 1923, The Ethiopian Empire had been one of the member states of the [[League of Nations]] after its membership was supported by Mussolini.{{Sfn|Sbacchi|1997|p=8}} Following Italy's [[Second Italo-Ethiopian War|invasion]], the League imposed [[Economic sanctions|economic sanctions]] on Italy, restricting trade in arms, [[Natural rubber|rubber]], and certain [[Raw material|raw materials]].{{sfn|Campbell|2017|p=21}} However, the sanctions did not include [[Fuel oil|oil]], which was needed for Italy's war effort.{{Sfn|Sbacchi|1997|p=214-218}} France and Britain, concerned about maintaining good relations with Italy against the growing [[Nazi Germany|German]] threat, [[Hoare–Laval Pact|hesitated]] to enforce harsher penalties ([[Appeasement#Abyssinia crisis|appeasement]]). In 1936, the League lifted the sanctions, effectively legitimizing Italy's conquest. The failure of the League to [[Collective security|protect]] the Ethiopian Empire exposed its weaknesses, demonstrating its inability to deter aggression from major powers. This failure was a key moment in [[Causes of World War II|the lead-up to World War II]], undermining the League's credibility as a force for global peace.{{Sfn|Sbacchi|1997|p=35}}{{sfn|Pergher|2017|p=18}}{{sfn|Campbell|2017|p=352}} Although Selassie fled to [[England]] and appealed to the League of Nations for help, many nations gradually recognized the Italian annexation for political and economic reasons.{{sfn|O'Mahoney|2018|p=105}}{{Sfn|Sbacchi|1997|p=209}} On 18 November 1936, the [[Italian Empire]] was recognised by the [[Empire of Japan]] and Italy recognised the Japanese occupation of [[Manchuria]], marking the end of the [[Stresa Front]]. Mussolini's international popularity further decreased as he endorsed the [[Anschluss|annexation of Austria]] by [[Nazi Germany]], beginning a political tilt toward Germany that eventually led to the [[Fall of the Fascist regime in Italy|downfall of Mussolini and the Fascist regime in Italy]] in [[World War II]]. 

[[File:Emperor Haile Selassie League of Nations speech.png|right|thumb|Selassie at the [[League of Nations]] appealing Italy's invasion in 1936]]
On 12 May 1936, the League of Nations allowed Selassie to [[Haile Selassie's speech to the League of Nations (1936)| address the assembly]]. Selassie was introduced as "His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of Ethiopia" ({{langx|fr|Sa Majesté Imperiale, l'Empereur d'Éthiopie}}), to jeering and whistling by Italian journalists.{{sfn|Moseley|1999|p=27}} The Romanian delegate [[Nicolae Titulescu]] shouted "To the door with the savages!" ({{langx|ro|A la porte les sauvages!}}), and the journalists were removed from the hall. Selassie responded with a speech.<ref>[[Delia Jarrett-Macauley|Jarrett-Macauley, Delia]] (1998), ''The Life of Una Marson, 1905–65'', Manchester University Press, {{ISBN|0-7190-5284-X}}, pp. 102–3.</ref><ref>Barker, A. J., ''The Rape of Ethiopia 1936'', p. 133</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Safire |first=William |year=1997 |title=Lend Me Your Ears: Great Speeches in History |publisher=W.W. Norton |isbn=978-0-393-04005-0 |url=https://archive.org/details/lendmeyourearsgr00safi |pages=297–298}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Luti |first=William |date=2 April 2022 |title=A 1936 Speech Offers Dire Warnings for Today |work=Hudson |url=https://www.hudson.org/foreign-policy/a-1936-speech-offers-dire-warnings-for-today |access-date=29 December 2023 |archive-date=29 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231229213528/https://www.hudson.org/foreign-policy/a-1936-speech-offers-dire-warnings-for-today |url-status=live }}</ref> In a speech on 30 June 1936 to the assembly, he predicted "It is us today, it will be you tomorrow" if the League of Nations permited Italian aggression.{{sfn|Campbell|2017|p=352}} Mussolini grew frustrated over the continued recognition of Selassie by the League of Nations and on 11 December 1937 announced the withdrawal of Italy's delegation to the League.{{sfn|Spencer|2006|p=72}}