Abyssinia – Why?

•   Because of the Great Depression, Italy wanted to

build an empire to secure raw materials.   
•   Mussolini was a fascist, and wanted to revive the
glories of Rome   
•   France and Britain needed Mussolini’s support
against Hitler (Stresa Pact 1935)
Abyssinia
 Abyssinia
•   The border between Abyssinia and Italian
Somaliland was uncertain and disputed - in Dec
1934 there was a small skirmish at Wal-Wal.
•   Mussolini demanded an apology and threatened
to invade.
•   There was great anger in Britain; Hoare (the
foreign minister) made a strong speech
supporting sanctions and collective security.
 Abyssinia
•   Feb 1935: The League set up a commission,
which reported in Sept.  It suggested giving part
of Abyssinia to Italy.   
•   Oct 1935: Mussolini rejected the plan and
invaded Abyssinia.   He used tanks and flame-
throwers and attacked red Cross hospitals.
•   The League banned weapons sales, and put
sanctions on rubber and metal (this hurt
Abyssinia more than Italy).  
•   It did NOT close the Suez Canal or ban oil sales,
which would have stopped the Italian invasion.
 Abyssinia
•   Dec 1935: Hoare-Laval Pact, a secret plan by
Britain and France to give Abyssinia to Italy.  
•   Britain and France asked that sanctions be lifted

- only Abyssinia voted against.

•   March 1936: Hitler marched into the Rhineland;
everyone forgot about Abyssinia.
•   May 1936: Mussolini conquered Abyssinia.
•   June 1936: Haile Selassie went to the League to
ask it to reconsider its 'terrible precedent' of
giving way to force.   He was ignored.
 Abyssinia
A SPECTACULAR failure:
1. The Fascists continued to expand:
•     Mussolini kept Abyssinia
• Hitler began to expand in Europe.
• Fascists took power in Spain
• Britain and France abandoned the League as a way
of keeping the peace - started to appease Hitler.
 Abyssinia
A SPECTACULAR failure:
2.  The League was ‘a useless fraud’ (AJP Taylor):
•     It was slow (the Report took 8 months).
•     A country could get its own way if it ignored it.
•     ‘Collective security' was useless against big
countries - especially during the Great Depression.
•     Even the great powers within the League were
happy to ignore it (Japan was on the Council).
•     Even Britain and France would betray the League.
•     Nine countries left 1936-1939.