What was the impact of the League's failure in Ethiopia?

The League's failure in Ethiopia undermined its credibility and exposed its inability to enforce collective security.

The League of Nations' failure to prevent Italy's invasion of Ethiopia in 1935 had profound implications. It not only undermined the League's credibility but also exposed its inherent weaknesses, particularly its inability to enforce collective security. The League was established after World War I with the primary aim of maintaining world peace through collective security. However, its failure in Ethiopia demonstrated that it was incapable of fulfilling this fundamental objective.

The League's response to the Ethiopian crisis was marked by indecision and delay. Despite Ethiopia's appeal for help, the League took seven months to impose sanctions on Italy. Even then, the sanctions were not comprehensive. They did not include oil, which was crucial for Italy's war effort. This half-hearted response showed that the League was not prepared to take decisive action against aggressors, thereby encouraging further acts of aggression.

Moreover, the failure in Ethiopia exposed the power dynamics within the League. The major powers, particularly Britain and France, were unwilling to risk their relationship with Italy over Ethiopia. They even attempted to negotiate a secret deal, the Hoare-Laval Pact, which would have given Italy control over large parts of Ethiopia. This revealed that the major powers were more interested in protecting their own interests than upholding the principles of the League.

The Ethiopian crisis also highlighted the League's lack of military power. Without its own armed forces, the League had to rely on its members to enforce its decisions. However, no member was willing to commit troops to stop Italy's invasion of Ethiopia. This made it clear that the League could not enforce its decisions through military means.

In conclusion, the League's failure in Ethiopia had a significant impact. It undermined the League's credibility, exposed its inability to enforce collective security, and revealed the self-interest of the major powers. This failure was a key factor in the decline of the League and the onset of World War II.