Transcript 7. Abyssinian Crisis

Appeasement and the Road to War
1933-1939
7. Abyssinian Crisis
What you need to know:
Why Italy wanted to invade Abyssinia
What action the League took?
What was Britain and France’s reaction to
the incident?
What the consequences of the Abyssinian
crisis were.
The Wal Wal Incident
In December 1934 a group of Abyssinian and Italian
soldiers clashed at the Wal Wal water hole in the
Abyssinian desert.
Mussolini demanded compensation for the death of 32
Italian soldiers and also that Abyssinian troops salute the
Italian flag at Wal Wal knowing full well that such a proud
people would never accept this.
To resolve the issue the Abyssinian Emperor, Haile
Selassie turned to the League of Nations to arbitrate.
However, despite League arbitration Mussolini invaded on
3rd October 1935.
Use Cameron textbook page 20 1. Why would Mussolini want to invade
Abyssinia?
2. What date did Italy invade?
3. What was the League’s reaction to the
invasion?
4. What was the Hoare-Laval Pact?
5. What was the reaction to this Pact?
At Adowa in
1896 the
Abyssinians
defeated the
Italians
Revenge
“A day in the
battlefield is
worth a thousand
years of peace”
Empire
Italy
lacked a
large colonial
empire, the
outward sign of
great power
A place for
Italy’s surplus
population
Why did Mussolini
invade Abyssinia?
Distract public
attention from
problems in
the economy
Mussolini had
sworn to
restore the
glories of the
Roman Empire
Self-respect
Possibly a
good market
for Italian
goods
“Italy received
Broken
Promises
but a few
crumbs from
the rich colonial
booty”
The failure of sanctions
Limited sanction imposed by League on 7th October
- all loans to Italy forbidden
- sale of war materials stopped
- ban on importing goods from Italy
Succeeded in damaging Italian economy leading to devaluation of lira,
but not enough to force Mussolini to seek peace.
Extension of sanctions to include oil would, by Mussolini’s admission,
have had more serious effect and may have succeeded in ending
the war. Neither Britain nor especially France were willing to
consider this. Issue discussed in February 1936, but no decision
taken
Factors influencing British and
French response
Some action had be taken because:
• Italian invasion was clearly unprovoked and in violation of the League Covenant.
Immediately condemned by League of Nations.
• British public opinion, as seen in the Peace Ballot of June 1935, overwhelmingly
favoured the use of economic sanctions.
However, both Britain and France were reluctant to take strong action because:
• Neither country had any liking for Abyssinia and saw their relationship with Italy as
more important.
• They did not want to antagonise Mussolini and risk him becoming closer to fellow
fascist, Hitler.
• They were concerned about German rearmament and wished to preserve the
recently established “Stresa Front” (April 1935)
• Military action against Mussolini would have overstretched British military resources,
given her imperial commitments.
Note: Evidence of this desire to accommodate and appease Mussolini had already been
seen in the months before the invasion (See above) and is clearly shown in the
limited nature of sanctions and in the Hoare-Laval Pact (below).
Hoare-Laval Pact
1.
Details
Plan devised by Sir Samuel Hoare, British Foreign Secretary and Pierre Laval, French Prime
Minister
It suggested:
:the handover of some 60,000 sq miles of Abyssinia to Italy (the province of Tigre and the
Ogaden desert)
: extensive economic rights for Italy over the bulk of southern Abyssinia
:a small area of Italian territory to go to Abyssinia to give them access to the sea
2.
3.
Reaction to Pact
It provoked an outcry in both Britain and France. Public opinion saw it as
rewarding an aggressor and as going against the spirit of the League and
collective security.
Defence of Pact
According to Hoare, a negotiated settlement was the only realistic option as the
ideas of extending economic sanctions or of taking military sanctions, were both
unacceptable. To have any chance of success, such a settlement would require
substantial concessions to Italy.
End of War
In May 1936 the Italian conquest was
complete.
In July 1936 the League lifted sanctions.
They had earlier refused to consider the
non-recognition of Mussolini’s control.
European repercussions of the
crisis
League of Nations weakened by half-hearted use
of sanctions and Hoare-Laval Pact. Played no
real part in any future dispute.
A fascist power had successfully followed an
aggressive foreign policy with little done by the
democratic powers to stop it.
The Stresa Front collapsed.
The hope of keeping Mussolini away from Hitler
had failed. The Rome-Berlin Axis agreement
was signed in October 1936