The Abyssinian Crisis

Italy and the League of Nations

1934 to 36

Aims of the lesson

By the end of this lesson you will learn about

• The ambitions of Mussolini

• How the League of Nations failed to stop Italian aggression in Abyssinia

Background

• The League of Nations was a good idea but in practise it was a failure

• Difficult to make decisions – too much self interest

• USA, Germany and USSR were not members

• In Manchuria the Japanese (a member of the council) was allowed to get away with an aggressive invasion – LoN did nothing

Mussolini

• Fascist ruler of Italy since 1922• Wanted to build an empire in

Africa – already controlled Libya, Somaliland and Eritrea

• Had tried to conquer Abyssinia (Ethiopia) in 1896 and failed

• Humiliating – wanted revenge• December 1934 – 30 soldiers

killed in a border clash. Gave Italy the excuse to invade

The invasion

• Very successful – Abyssinian army had spears and Italians machine guns

• Britain and France did not want to upset Italy in case it made her friendly with Hitler

• April 1935 – Stresa Front. Britain, Italy and France agreed to join together against Germany.

LoN inaction

• Most British people wanted her to stop the invasion – Government not keen

• September 1935 – Samuel Hoare (GB Foreign Secretary) called for collective action against Italy

• Tough talk in public – but sucking up to the Italians in private

• October 1935 – invasion succeeded

Haile Selassie

• Emperor of Abyssinia• Appealed for help to LoN• LoN imposed economic

sanctions – no country allowed to trade with her

• Just bought from USA• Britain and France allowed

Mussolini to use the Suez Canal – breaking own sanctions

Treachery

• Hoare and Laval (French Foreign Minister) devised a plan to divide Abyssinia in two

• Italy to be given two thirds and rest to Haile Selassie if Mussolini stopped fighting

• Hoare-Laval Pact – details leaked in December 1935

• Uproar – looked like Britain and France were putting self interest above Abyssinia and the League of Nations

The consequences

• By May 1936 the Italian had conquered the whole of Abyssinia

• Selaisse fled the country and went to Geneva to address the League

• Too late – LoN was totally discredited

• Backfired in October 1936 Mussolini signed the Berlin-Rome Axis pact with Hitler.