In search of legitimacy: the United States and the recognition of the Italian Empire, 1936-1940

This paper chronicles USA foreign policy towards Italy and Ethiopia during Italy’s occupation of Ethiopia in the period 1936-1940. During the Italo-Ethiopian war the USA assumed a neutral posture and the League of Nations announced economic sanctions. Nevertheless, US policy was conceived to favour Italy, allowing for the acquisition of raw materials and industrial products. Although by 1938 most nations had recognized the Italian Empire, the US was one of the few countries which refused to do so as US foreign policy was set against the acquisition of territory through the use of force. Furthermore, President Roosevelt was unwilling to renew the Italo-American trade agreement because Italy insisted that King Victor Emanuel ought to be recognized as ‘Emperor of Ethiopia’. From 1940 on, political collaboration with Germany became part of Italian foreign policy at the expense of American-Italian relations. Ref.