1935 – Ethiopia Appeals to League of Nations Against Italy

On June 14, 1935, Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie formally appealed to the League of Nations for support against Italy’s imperial invasion, marking a pivotal moment in pre-World War II international politics. Ethiopia, one of the few African nations to maintain its sovereignty during the colonial scramble, faced fascist aggression under Benito Mussolini. Selassie’s speech before the League became a powerful rebuke of global indifference to colonial violence. Although the League condemned Italy, it failed to take meaningful action, revealing the organization\’s inability to enforce its own principles against European powers. Selassie\’s appeal nevertheless galvanized Pan-African and anti-colonial movements across the globe, especially in the Caribbean and the United States. Ethiopia\’s resistance became a beacon of Black pride and dignity, influencing global solidarity efforts and reinforcing Ethiopia’s role as a spiritual and political symbol in the African diaspora.