Haille Selaisse, Emperor of Ethiopia made an appeal to the League of Nations for help in defending his country from Mussolini. Mussolini wanted Ethiopia so he could have control of the Mediterranean Sea and North Africa. On October 3, 1935, Mussolini invaded Ethiopia to try and gain control of the Suez Canal. Selaisse had no where else to turn, so he appealed to the League of Nations.

Selaisse opened his appeal/speech by saying, " I Haille Salaisse, Emperor of Ethiopia, am here today to claim that justice which is due to my people, and the assistant promised to give it eight months ago, when fifty nations asserted that aggression had been committed in violation of international treaties." Salaisse claims that since no nation responded to his requests eight months ago, the League of Nations is responsible for his people’s deaths. Italian soldiers killed men, women, children, cattle, and destroyed farm land.

Haille Selaisse kept trying to make peace with Italy, and Italy agreed but broke the promise. The Treaty of Friendship was a pact that Italy signed only to hide their real intentions of invasion. The Pact of Paris outlawed war between the two countries. Haille Selaisse said " It is a shame that every treaty or agreement that Italy signed was false, and that Italy’s only real intention was to invade Ethiopia and kill it’s people.

Later in Salaisse’s speech he accused the League of Nations of siding with the aggressors from Italy, instead of Ethiopia. The League felt that fear of war was far greater that their obligations to a fellow nation. He also stated that he didn’t want troops, but rather supplies to defend his home. In October 1935, Italy began the Invasion on Ethiopia. The League of Nations applied economic sanctions upon Italy. But, Selaisse knew that sanctions would not stop an aggressor. Due to the League of Nation’s inadequate attempt to stop Italy, Italy easily conquered Ethiopia. In the end of Haille’s speech he said " God and History will remember your judgment."