THE ABYSSINIAN CRISIS

BACKGROUND INFORMATION Mussolini’s Italy invaded Abyssinia, in East Africa, in October Causes: Mussolini wanted Italy to gain the farmland and raw materials found in Abyssinia, particularly as Italy was suffering in the Depression. Italy had tried to invade before, in 1896, and had been beaten in the Battle of Adowa. Mussolini wanted revenge for this. Italy was trying to build an empire in East Africa, they owned colonies on either side of Abyssinia.

ABYSSINIA

AN UNFAIR FIGHT Italy – Used modern weapons of war – tanks, bomber aircraft & poison gas. Abyssinia – Old fashioned infantry & cavalry. Spears and old WW1 rifles. Abyssinia, led by Emperor Haile Selassie, appealed to the League for help.

THE STRESA FRONT Britain, France & Italy were all worried about the growing threat from Hitler. He had started to rearm and had threatened Austria, against the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. This led to the signing of the Stresa Front in early Britain, France & Italy agreed to work together to try to stop Hitler breaking the Treaty of Versailles. As a result of signing this Pact, Mussolini was sure Britain & France would not act against him when he invaded Abyssinia.

THE LEAGUE’S RESPONSE There was no excuse for the League not to act. This was a clear cut invasion of a weak country by a strong country. The League’s Covenant was clear – Economic Sanctions should be imposed ; it was expected that all trade with Italy would be stopped. In addition, it was expected that Britain & France, as owners of the Suez Canal, would keep it closed so that Mussolini’s invasion fleet couldn’t get to Abyssinia.

WHAT THE LEAGUE DID Imposed limited sanctions – it only banned the sale of weapons and a few other items to Italy, it banned loans to Italy and imports. As Italy had stocked up on weapons before the invasion, this had no impact. It did NOT stop oil exports to Italy (so Italy had oil for powering planes and tanks). It did NOT ban coal exports to Italy (so Italy could still power its ships). Britain & France did NOT close the Suez Canal so Mussolini’s fleet could invade & so they could keep sending supplies to their Army.

THE 2 KEY ITEMS

WHY DID THE LEAGUE ACT LIKE THIS? Because Britain & France were the 2 leading nations in the League. They were desperate to keep Mussolini on their side, in the Stresa Front, so they didn’t want to upset him with tough sanctions or by shutting the Suez Canal. Britain was selfish: There was no sanctions on coal as they didn’t want British coal miners losing jobs – many had during the Depression.

THE HOARE-LAVAL PACT As the crisis was awkward for Britain & France, they wanted to solve it quickly. Their Foreign Secretaries came up with the Hoare-Laval Pact to end the fighting. This proposed dividing up Abyssinia:- Italy would get ⅔ of the country which contained all the good farmland and raw materials. Italy would be rewarded for invading Abyssinia! Abyssinia would get ⅓ of the country which was the barren, mountainous area where little grew. There was uproar at this plan, when it was leaked to the press. Hoare & Laval had to resign and the plan was withdrawn BUT it badly damaged the League’s reputation.

IMPACT OF BRITAIN & FRANCE’S ACTIONS Britain & France were seen as selfish and as having let the League & Abyssinia down. Their actions allowed Italy to invade Abyssinia which was conquered by May Their actions made it look like the League was too frightened to stand up to powerful countries. Its idea of Collective Security didn’t work. Small countries realised that they couldn’t trust the League to protect them.

THE USA

Not a member of the League – isolationist after WW1. US senate voted not to join the League in Americans didn’t want to get involved with European affairs that could cost men & money. Without the USA: Economic sanctions would be less successful as the US was the world’s biggest trading nation. The League also lost out on the military power of the USA so any League army would be less powerful.

THE USA & ABYSSINIA In Abyssinia, the USA might have gone along with sanctions on Oil BUT it was so angry that Britain & France were so selfish that they wouldn’t co- operate. The USA didn’t see why they should agree to sanctions on oil (when they weren’t a League member) if Britain wouldn’t agree to sanctions on coal (when they were a member). With the oil supplied by the USA, Italy could power its planes, tanks & military vehicles. They could get to Abyssinia due to having coal to power their ships and as they could get through the open Suez Canal.