How did the western democracy respond to the aggression of the axis powers during the 1930s?

They tried their best to convince the world they were just bystanders in all the aggression. The US passed 3 neutrality acts to convince everyone they were not gonna be involved in any aggressive action .... They hid from the idea that war was coming ..

In a Word - appeasement, i.e. a light slap on the wrist and an "Oh, you are a naughty boy".