In 1896 Italian troops had tried to invade Abyssinia but hadbeen defeated by a poorly equipped army of tribesmen.

Mussolini wanted revenge for this humiliation.

He also had his eye on the fertile lands and mineral wealthof Abyssinia.

But most of all, he wanted glory and conquest.

Wal-Wal oasis

The border between Abyssinia and

Italian Somaliland was uncertain and

disputed - in December 1934 there was

a small skirmish at Wal-Wal.

Mussolini demanded an apology and

threatened to invade.

While supposedly negotiating with the League, Mussolini was shipping his army to Africa.

Phase 1: The League plays for

time (Jan 1935 – Oct

1936)

Britain and France wished to keep goodrelations with Mussolini.

The Stresa Pact formalised a protest at German rearmament and committed to stand together against Germany.

The British public

favoured the defence

of Abyssinia, by force

if necessary.

Politicians – hoping

for votes – began to

“get tough”.

British Foreign

Minister, Hoare, made

a grand speech about

collective security.

After 8 months a

committee reported

that neither Italy nor

Abyssinia were

responsible for the

Wal-Wal incident.

The League put

forward a plan to give

Italy part of Abyssinia.

Mussolini rejected it.

Phase 2: Sanctions or not?(Oct 1935 – May 1936)

The Covenant made it clear that sanctions must be introduced.

The League imposed an immediate ban on arms sales, loans, imports

from Italy and the export to Italy of rubber, tin and metals.

Sanctions would only work if

imposed quickly and decisively.

However, the League delayedthe decision whether to ban oilexports to Italy.

The Suez Canal not closed

to Mussolini’s supply ships.

They feared USA would not support

sanctions.

They feared the economic interests of

League members would be further

damaged. (eg: British coal miners)

Hoare – Laval:

SECRET negotiations! (Dec

1935)

British and French Foreign Ministers

secretly planned to give Mussolini 2/3 of

Abyssinia if he called off the invasion.

Hoare and Laval’splans leaked to thepress.

They were bothsacked.

Discussion of oil banwas further delayed.

USA, disgusted withBritain and France, blocked theLeague’s sanctions.

Mussolini obtains Abyssinia

Hitler remilitarizedthe Rhineland in March 1936.

In NovemberMussolini and Hitler signed and agreement.

The French weredesperate to gainsupport of Italy

RESOURCES

WALSH, Ben

“GCSE Modern

Word History”

http://www.cartoons.

ac.uk/

http://punch.photosh

elter.com/