THE ABYSSINIAN CRISIS (1934)

OVERVIEW

December 1934 fighting broke out between Italian and Abyssinian troops at Wal-Wal, an oasis located 50 miles from the Abyssinian-Italian Somaliland border in Abyssinia. October 1935, Mussolini invaded Abyssinia. On the 18th October the League condemned Italian action through a series of escalating sanctions. Nevertheless, by May 1936 Italy had taken over Abyssinia, without any war declaration. The crisis undermined the credibility of the League of Nations and presented it as a powerless organisation.

HOW DID FIGHTING BREAK OUT?

- In August 2 1928 Italy and Abyssinia signed the Italio-Ethiopian Treaty of Friendship which declared a 20 year friendship

- They both then signed the Kellogg-Briand pact which renounced war as a way international policy

- However, Italy then broke this pact by building a fort in WalWal as part of their plan to take over Abyssian territory

ITALIAN MOTIVES

- Mussolini wanted a large empire- To distract away from internal problems, that were to a large extent a direct consequence of the

Great Depression following the Wall Street Crash in 1929. - More land for Italian settlers - The new colony would join Eritrea and Somaliland, which were already under Italian rule.- In 1896 Italian army were defeated by the Abyssinian army at the battle of Adowa

ABYSSINIAN RESPONSE

- December 1934, Emperor Haile Selassie protested at the Italian aggression.

- January 1935, Abyssinia appealed to League for help in the WalWal incident. League failed to respond adequately.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

- Hoare and Laval Pact. Plan between the French, British and Italian foreign ministers to divide Abyssinia and

allow Italy to acquire 2/3 of Abyssinia.

- The league was reluctant to act with military actions, as they did not want to lose Mussolini as an ally against Hitler or risk a major war.

AFTERMATH

- The trust into the League of Nations, power and ability to help against aggressor was deeply broken as a result.