On This Day in 1936: Emperor Haile Selassie Appeals to the League of Nations Against Italy's Invasion of Ethiopia

June 30, 1936 – Geneva, Switzerland - In one of the most powerful and prophetic speeches of the 20th century, Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia stood before the League of Nations on this day in 1936 to plead for justice and international solidarity in the face of Italy's brutal invasion of his country. His address, delivered in Geneva to a packed assembly of diplomats and journalists, was not only a desperate appeal for aid but also a searing indictment of global inaction in the face of fascist aggression.

The speech marked the first time a head of state personally addressed the League, and it would become a defining moment in the collapse of collective security and the prelude to World War II.

The Road to Geneva

The crisis began on October 3, 1935, when Fascist Italy, under Benito Mussolini, launched an unprovoked invasion of Ethiopia-then known as Abyssinia-from its colonial holdings in Eritrea and Italian Somaliland. Despite being a member of the League of Nations, Italy violated the League's charter by waging war without provocation.

Ethiopia, one of only two independent African nations at the time, was ill-equipped to resist the modern Italian military. Italian forces used tanks, aircraft, and-most infamously-chemical weapons, including mustard gas, against Ethiopian soldiers and civilians alike. The League of Nations imposed limited sanctions on Italy, but they were largely ineffective and failed to halt the aggression.

By May 1936, Italian troops had captured the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, and Haile Selassie was forced into exile. Yet he refused to surrender his nation's sovereignty.

A Voice for the Voiceless

On June 30, 1936, Haile Selassie entered the League's grand assembly hall in Geneva. Dressed in a simple military uniform, he stood alone at the podium and delivered a speech that would echo through history.

"I, Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia, am here today to claim that justice which is due to my people," he began. "There is no precedent for a Head of State himself speaking in this assembly. But there is also no precedent for a people being victim of such injustice."

He described in harrowing detail the use of poison gas, the bombing of Red Cross hospitals, and the slaughter of civilians. He warned that the failure to stop Italy's aggression would embolden other powers to follow suit.

"It is us today. It will be you tomorrow," he declared-a chilling prophecy that would be fulfilled with the outbreak of World War II just three years later.

The World's Response

Despite the moral clarity of Selassie's appeal, the League's response was tepid. Many member states, including Britain and France, were reluctant to confront Mussolini directly, fearing it would drive Italy into alliance with Nazi Germany. The League ultimately refused to take further action, and most nations eventually recognized Italy's conquest.

Selassie's proposal to deny recognition of the Italian occupation was rejected by a vote of 23 against, 1 in favor, and 25 abstentions. The emperor left Geneva with no concrete support, but his speech had galvanized public opinion around the world.

In the United States, the Black press hailed Selassie as a hero. In the Caribbean, his defiance inspired the Rastafari movement, which would revere him as a messianic figure. Across Africa, his resistance became a symbol of anti-colonial struggle.

Legacy and Vindication

Though Ethiopia remained under Italian occupation until 1941, Haile Selassie's speech laid the groundwork for his eventual return. With the help of British forces during World War II, he reclaimed his throne and began rebuilding his nation.

The League of Nations, discredited by its failure to act, would dissolve in 1946 and be replaced by the United Nations, which sought to avoid the same mistakes. Selassie would later address the UN in 1963, warning again of the dangers of indifference and injustice.

"Until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned... the dream of lasting peace... will remain but a fleeting illusion," he said-words later immortalized by Bob Marley in the song "War."

A Moment That Still Resonates

Eighty-nine years later, Haile Selassie's speech remains a powerful reminder of the importance of international solidarity, the dangers of appeasement, and the enduring struggle for justice. His voice, calm yet resolute, pierced the complacency of the world's most powerful nations and demanded that they live up to their ideals.

Though the League failed him, history has not. His words continue to inspire those who speak truth to power and stand against tyranny.