Abyssinia

1
Abyssinia

•    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 Mussolinis support
  
• against Hitler (Stresa Pact 1935)

2
Abyssinia
3
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.

4
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.

5
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.

6
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.

7
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.