International Responses to Italian Aggression Page 194 To 210 ** Please note you will need to copy out / know the timeline on page 192 **

Appeasement: Appeasement was a diplomatic policy of making concessions to nations in order to avoid conflict.

Appeasement and Great Britain Public Opinion: As the amount of voters had increased (Post ww1), politicians were now forced to listen to the general public more closely. During the 1930s the public opinion was that of not wanting another war. So When Italy and Germany became aggressors, Britain kept its faith in the league of nations. Dictators demands seen as justified: Many politicians in GB felt that the Treaty of Versailles was too harsh. PM Chamberlain felt he could do business with Mussolini and Hitler and could sort out their grievances politically. Communism was also seen as more threatening than fascism. (Conservative View)

Lack of alternatives: There were no clear “Anti-Appeasers” in Politics at this time Economic Pressures: The 1930s had caused a huge economic issue in GB: Unemployment (3 mil.) This issue made it hard for the government to justify spending money on military expenditures and defense. The result in 1937 was for Britain to ‘make more friends than enemies’ and they attempted to work more closely with the dictators.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR8lSozEbcs Defense Priorities: Due to the rising cost of the depression the british treasury only allowed military spending for: preparation against air attacks, preservation of trade routes and food supplies, defence of the empire, defence of GB’s allies Neville Chamberlain: As the PM he had little influence over the decision placed upon him by the government. Personally, Chamberlain hated war and was determined to use diplomacy to solve problems. His distrust of anything non-British he believed that GB should exclusively Broker any Negotiations with GER and ITALY.

France and Appeasement. Read pages 197 and 198 Determine the 5 W’s in accordance of France’s role in appeasement during the mid to late 1930s

The Lon and Appeasement Because of the general weaknesses of the league of Nations, there was no real response to acts of aggression by Italy or Germany. Without the diplomatic power of the usa, GB and FR had to look after the league – but at this time they were mostly concerned for their own interests.

Abyssinia: Background to events Abyssinia : An independent country ruled by Haile Selassie, the only independent black country in Africa. In 1896 its army had defeated an Italian invasion. Mussolini : Fascist dictator of Italy, was determined to build an Empire. He also wanted revenge for defeat of 1896.

Timeline of Events December 1934 - Italian troops provoke a clash at Wal Wal October 1935 - Italian invasion begins December 1935 - Britain and France produce Hoare- Laval Plan. Large parts of Abyssinia to be given to Italy in return for Italian withdrawal. Public outcry- plan abandoned May 1936 Italian conquest complete

The League: actions and results Dec 1934 offers arbitration Rejected by Italy Jan-Feb 1935 debates its response no further action May-Sept sets up a five power commission Abyssinia rejects proposals Oct 1935 Italy condemned limited economic sanctions imposed

The League: actions and results March 1936 - Oil embargo threatened No impact Italy complete conquest. Hitler noted weakness of the League and remilitarize the Rhineland (March 1936) June 1936 - Haile Selassie addressed Assembly of League calling for help No additional action by League

The League: actions and results July 1936 - sanctions against Italy abandoned Italy - Kept Abyssinia Became allied with Germany Left the Stresa Front Left the League (1937)

Why did the League Fail? Britain and France were unwilling to take a lead they feared Italian action against their interests in the area Also wanted to keep Mussolini in the Stresa Front to contain the threat posed by Hitler. The Hoare-Laval Plan discredited and weakened the League

Responses to Abyssinia To summarize and gain a bit of a clearer image of this information: Read Pages 201-209 Make notes on specific reactions by each super power (GB, Fr, USA).