1. The Failure in Abyssinia 1935 - 6

3. 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.

4. 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

5. Hoare Laval Pact Look at the Hoare Laval Pact and answer the following questions What was it? Why did it expose Britain and France as frauds?

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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)

9. 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

10. Long Term Results Countries lost faith in the League Countries started to form secret alliances Countries started to rearm.

11. Source A A British cartoon of 1935 shows international politics like a stage musical. Britain and France sing: ‘We don’t want you to fight, but by jingo if you do, We will probably issue a joint memorandum Suggesting a mild disapproval of you.’ What is this source trying to say? Give reasons for your answer

12. Source D The crisis was fatal to the League. Nobody took it seriously again. They got ready for the Second World War. Written by the historian JR Western (1971) Source E The League died in 1935. One day it was a powerful body imposing sanctions, the next day it was a useless fraud, everybody running away from it as quickly as possible. Hitler watched. Written by the historian AJP Taylor (1966) Source F Manchuria demonstrated that the league was toothless. However, the blow to the League was not a mortal one and the decisive test came two years later in the Abyssinian crisis... The Abyssinian crisis delivered a death blow to the League. It was already weakened by the departure of Japan in March 1933 and Germany in October. Italy left in 1937. While Britain and France were distracted, Hitler made his first major territorial move, sending a force of 22,000 men into the demilitarised Rhineland. Written by the historian AP Adamthwaite (1977

13. Discussion Questions Why was the league so ineffective in dealing with the crises in Manchuria and Abyssinia Why was the Abyssinian crisis a death blow to the league when the Manchurian one was not?