1) Italy wanted to build an empire to secure resources due to the Great Depression, and Mussolini wanted to revive Rome's glory. 2) There was a border dispute between Abyssinia and Italian Somaliland which led to a small skirmish. Mussolini demanded an apology and threatened invasion. 3) In 1935, a League commission suggested giving part of Abyssinia to Italy, but Mussolini rejected the plan and invaded later that year using tanks and flamethrowers. The League imposed weak sanctions but did not cut off crucial oil.

1. Abyssinia
• Because of the Great Depression, Italy wanted to
build an empire to secure raw materials.
• Mussolini was a fascist, and wanted to revive the
glories of Rome
• France and Britain needed Mussolini’s support
against Hitler (Stresa Pact 1935)

2. Abyssinia

3. Abyssinia
• The border between Abyssinia and Italian
Somaliland was uncertain and disputed - in Dec
1934 there was a small skirmish at Wal-Wal.
• Mussolini demanded an apology and threatened
to invade.
• There was great anger in Britain; Hoare (the
foreign minister) made a strong speech
supporting sanctions and collective security.

4. Abyssinia
• Feb 1935: The League set up a commission,
which reported in Sept. It suggested giving part
of Abyssinia to Italy.
• Oct 1935: Mussolini rejected the plan and
invaded Abyssinia. He used tanks and flamethrowers and attacked red Cross hospitals.
• The League banned weapons sales, and put
sanctions on rubber and metal (this hurt
Abyssinia more than Italy).
• It did NOT close the Suez Canal or ban oil sales,
which would have stopped the Italian invasion.

5. Abyssinia
• Dec 1935: Hoare-Laval Pact, a secret plan by
Britain and France to give Abyssinia to Italy.
• Britain and France asked that sanctions be lifted
- only Abyssinia voted against.
• March 1936: Hitler marched into the Rhineland;
everyone forgot about Abyssinia.
• May 1936: Mussolini conquered Abyssinia.
• June 1936: Haile Selassie went to the League to
ask it to reconsider its 'terrible precedent' of
giving way to force. He was ignored.

6. Abyssinia
A SPECTACULAR failure:
1. The Fascists continued to expand:
• Mussolini kept Abyssinia
• Hitler began to expand in Europe.
• Fascists took power in Spain
• Britain and France abandoned the League as a way
of keeping the peace - started to appease Hitler.

7. Abyssinia
A SPECTACULAR failure:
2. The League was ‘a useless fraud’ (AJP Taylor):
• It was slow (the Report took 8 months).
• A country could get its own way if it ignored it.
• ‘Collective security' was useless against big
countries - especially during the Great Depression.
• Even the great powers within the League were
happy to ignore it (Japan was on the Council).
• Even Britain and France would betray the League.
• Nine countries left 1936-1939.