Title: The Abyssinian Crisis Aim: To find out how the League dealt with the Italian invasion of Abyssinia This cartoon of 1933, by the British cartoonist David Low, is entitled: 'The Doormat'.   It shows a Japanese soldier trampling all over the League, whilst League officials bow down before him and the British Foreign Secretary John Simon powders the League's nose using a 'Face-saving kit'.   What is the cartoonist suggesting about the League...   the Japanese Army... John Simon and the other western diplomats?

Background Abyssinia was an African country that had not yet been made a European colony. It had good farmland and many minerals. It was surrounded by European colonies, including Eritrea and Somaliland, both Italian. In 1896, Italian troops invaded Abyssinia, but were beaten at the Battle of Adowa. In 1928, Italy signed a treaty of friendship with Abyssinia. In the 1930s, it became clear that the Italian dictator, Mussolini, was preparing to go to war to take Abyssinia.

Mussolini and the League of Nations, January – October 1935 The League did not want a clash with Mussolini. Britain and France wanted him to be their ally against Hitler in Germany. Mussolini decided that neither the League nor Britain and France would act if he took Abyssinia. Mussolini

Italy attacks Abyssinia, October 1935 In October 1935, Italy invaded Abyssinia. The Italians used modern weapons, including tanks, planes and poison gas. The Abyssinians did not have weapons like these. The only hope for their Emperor. Haile Selassie, lay in the size of the country, the poor state of the roads and an appeal to the League of Nations.

The League’s response This was clearly a case of the strong invading the weak. The League should have defended Abyssinia. The first step, according to the League’s Covenant, was economic sanctions. The League set up a committee to decide on sanctions

What the League decided to do The sale of weapons and some goods to Italy was banned. No League member was to buy Italian goods or lend Italy money. But: Vital oil and coal were still sold to Italy, to protect US and British trade. Italian ships were still allowed to use the Suez Canal Mussolini’s main supply route to Abyssinia.

The Hoare – Laval Pact Meanwhile, the British and French foreign ministers, Hoare and Laval, drew up a plan to end the war. They suggested that Abyssinia should be split into two. Italy would get the best area for farming and minerals. Halie Selassie would get the poor, mountainous land. The plan was leaked to the press and there was a huge outcry. Britain and France were clearly putting their interests ahead of the interests of the League, Hoare and Laval were forced to resign. This damaged the League’s reputation.

Mussolini triumphs The Italians continued fighting in Abyssinia. In May 1936, they captured the capital city, Addis Ababa. Haile Selaisse managed to escape to Geneva and appealed to the League for more help. The next step for the League would be to gather an army to turn Mussolini out of Abyssinia. The League did nothing.

The end of the League of Nations In March 1936, the German dictator, Hitler, sent troops into the Rhineland, breaking the Treaty of Versailles. The League had done nothing. It’s failure to act in Abyssinia marked the end of the League’s influence, even though it was not formally broken up until 1946. In October 1936, Hitler and Mussolini made the Rome-Berlin Axis agreement. Another world war was looming.

Why did the League fail? The League did not meet often. It needed all decisions to be agreed by every member: this made it difficult for it to make quick decisions. The USA was not a member. The USSR did not join until 1934. Germany and Japan left in 1933. Italy left in 1937. Sanctions, especially without US support, did not work. The League had no army, did not want to fight and had trouble with raising an army from its members. The League was supposed to uphold the peace treaties of 1919-20. these were now seen as unfair.

What were the implications of the League’s failure? Japan, Italy and Germany all broke League rules and kept the land they invaded. The only action they faced was the disapproval of other countries. The only way the League could save itself from failure was by rapid action. It was not set up to act quickly. It was not able to agree to raise an army to defend its weaker members. This showed that the League could not make collective security work. Weak nations realised they could not rely on the League to protect them. Britain and France saw the League did not work against dictators. They began to build up their armies.

Starter Activity Match these words to the events on the topic of the League of Nations 1. Geneva, Switzerland. 2. Manchukuo. 3. The Lytton Commission. 4. Adowa. 5. Hoare and Laval. 6. Haile Selassie. 7. Sanctions. Were imposed on Italy by the League, but they did not include oil. Was a battle in 1896 that the Italians lost to Abyssinia. Was where the League was based. Agreed a pact to split up Abyssinia. Was appointed by the League to report on the Japanese takeover of Manchuria. Was the name the Japanese gave to Manchuria after their takeover. Was Emperor of Abyssinia at the time of the Italian invasion.