The cartoon criticizes the weak response of Britain and France to Mussolini's invasion of Abyssinia in 1935. It depicts Britain and France singing a song threatening only a mild memorandum of disapproval while dressed in ridiculous costumes, implying their actions through the League of Nations were trivial and ineffective. Published early in the crisis in the British magazine Punch, the cartoon suggests the League had already lost credibility and would fail to deter future aggressors like Mussolini.

1. A song accompanies the cartoon:
‘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.’
In this cartoon of 1935 in the British
magazine Punch, Britain and France
condemn Mussolini’s invasion of
Abyssinia, but all they threaten is a
memorandum suggesting a mild
disapproval.

2. What is the message of this cartoon?

3. To do this question, you
need first to borrow two
concepts from English:
Denotation
(what you see)
A song accompanies the cartoon:
‘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.’
Connotation
(how it affects its audience)
In this cartoon of 1935 in the British
magazine Punch, Britain and France
condemn Mussolini’s invasion of
Abyssinia, but all they threaten is a
memorandum suggesting a mild
disapproval.

4. Denotation
Mussolini is holding a paper
saying ‘Abyssinian Dispute’.
Connotation
‘Holding’ = wanting to acquire.
A song accompanies the cartoon:
‘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.’
Meaning
Italy has invaded Abyssinia.
In this cartoon of 1935 in the British
magazine Punch, Britain and France
condemn Mussolini’s invasion of
Abyssinia, but all they threaten is a
memorandum suggesting a mild
disapproval.

5. Denotation
Figures representing France and
Britain wag a finger at Mussolini.
Connotation
A song accompanies the cartoon:
‘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.’
Wagging a finger represents
condemnation.
Meaning
Mussolini is behaving badly,
and the League condemns him.
In this cartoon of 1935 in the British
magazine Punch, Britain and France
condemn Mussolini’s invasion of
Abyssinia, but all they threaten is a
memorandum suggesting a mild
disapproval.

6. Denotation
All they are threatening in their song
is issuing a worthless memorandum.
Connotation
A song accompanies the cartoon:
‘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.’
The reprimand is worse than
useless – Britain and France
appear scared of Mussolini.
Meaning
The League is not taking
effective action.
In this cartoon of 1935 in the British
magazine Punch, Britain and France
condemn Mussolini’s invasion of
Abyssinia, but all they threaten is a
memorandum suggesting a mild
disapproval.

7. Denotation
The song threatens only ‘a joint
memorandum’ and ‘mild
disapproval’.
Connotation
A song accompanies the cartoon:
‘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.’
The 19th century song it parodies
threatened war: ‘We've got the
ships, we've got the men, we've
got the money too'.
Meaning
Britain is a pale shadow of the
world power it used to be.
In this cartoon of 1935 in the British
magazine Punch, Britain and France
condemn Mussolini’s invasion of
Abyssinia, but all they threaten is a
memorandum suggesting a mild
disapproval.

8. Denotation
Britain and France are dressed as if
for a Music Hall show.
Connotation
A song accompanies the cartoon:
‘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.’
Music Hall – amusing, but trivial
and ridiculous.
Meaning
Britain and France have
reduced the League to a farce.
In this cartoon of 1935 in the British
magazine Punch, Britain and France
condemn Mussolini’s invasion of
Abyssinia, but all they threaten is a
memorandum suggesting a mild
disapproval.

9. Finally, always remember
to look at:
Origin
(who drew it)
A song accompanies the cartoon:
‘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.’
Date
(when it was published)
In this cartoon of 1935 in the British
magazine Punch, Britain and France
condemn Mussolini’s invasion of
Abyssinia, but all they threaten is a
memorandum suggesting a mild
disapproval.

10. Origin
The British magazine Punch.
Details
A British humorous/political
magazine.
A song accompanies the cartoon:
‘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.’
Significance
The cartoon echoes the British
public’s growing despair at the
League’s failure to take action
against aggressor nations.
In this cartoon of 1935 in the British
magazine Punch, Britain and France
condemn Mussolini’s invasion of
Abyssinia, but all they threaten is a
memorandum suggesting a mild
disapproval.

11. Date
1935.
Details
At the start of the crisis.
A song accompanies the cartoon:
‘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.’
Significance
The cartoon forecasts the
League’s failure – people had
already lost faith in the League.
In this cartoon of 1935 in the British
magazine Punch, Britain and France
condemn Mussolini’s invasion of
Abyssinia, but all they threaten is a
memorandum suggesting a mild
disapproval.