REVISION IGCSE CAMBRIDGE HISTORY: HOARE LAVAL PACT

1. HOARE-LAVAL
PACT
IGCSE HISTORY
REVISION

2. DEFINITION
Hoare-Laval Pact was signed in 1935 and it was an agreement between
the British and French foreign ministers over Abyssinia following the
Italian invasion.

3. Question 1
To what did Britain and France agree?

4. Answer 1
Italy was to be allowed to keep 2/3 of Abyssinia, including the coast.

5. Give two reasons why Britain and France
were prepared to sign away Abyssinian
sovereignty.

6. Answer 2
They were looking for Italian support against a resurgent Germany.
They wanted Mussolini to stop his invasion.

7. Question 3
The agreement met strong
resistance in Britain. Why?

8. Answer 3
It was seen for what it was: a clear and early example of appeasement.

9. Question 4
Did the three European countries follow
through with the pact??

10. Answer 4
No. Public outcry led to Hoare’s resignation, the plan was dropped and
Mussolini completed his conquest of Abyssinia.

11. Important
This act weakened the League of Nations (Italy withdrew in 1937).
Anglo-French criticism of Mussolini weakened the Stresa Front and Italy
was drawn closer to Hitler.