The 1930s – The League in Abyssinia

In the 1930s,the League failed terribly. This page looks at its failure in Abyssinia. By 1935, most countries did not think that the League could keep the peace. When Hitler began to break the Treaty of Versailles in the 1930s, the League was powerless to stop him. The League failed, and the only way to stop Hitler was a Second World War.	Links Simple site Film clips Reed Brett on Abyssinia History Learning site - good Learning Curve Site - interesting Describe Italy’s invasion of Abyssinia (1935–6) and what the League of Nations did about it. Powerpoints: • Abyssinia ppt. swf. • SchoolHistory presentation ppt. Harder links: Evelyn Waugh - approves of the Italian invasion. Documents - VERY difficult
The Dispute: Mussolini got ready to invade Abyssinia (Ethiopia). He wanted war and glory. Abyssinia asked the League to help. What the League did: The League talked to Mussolini – but he used the time to send an army to Africa. The League suggested a plan to give part of Abyssinia to Italy. What happened: Mussolini ignored the League, and invaded Abyssinia. The League banned weapons sales, and put sanctions on rubber and metal. The Abyssinian Emperor Haile Selassie went to the League to appeal for help, but it did nothing else – in fact Britain and France secretly agreed to give Abyssinia to Italy (the Hoare-Laval Pact). Italy conquered Abyssinia The League had failed.	Extra: Why was the League of Nations unable to stop Italy taking over Abyssinia in the 1930s - WHY did the League fail in Abyssinia?
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.’ Source B I will begin by re-affirming the support of the League by the British government and the interest of the British people in collective security. The government of the United Kingdom will be second to none in their intention to fulfill, within the measure of their capacity, the obligations which the Covenant lays on them. A speech by Samuel Hoare, British Foreign Secretary, to the League of Nations ( 11 September 1935, during the crisis). What are the MOST important words in his speech? This speech, although it promises on the outside to support the League, in fact shows that Britain was getting ready to betray the League. In December 1935, Hoare came to an agreement with Laval (for France) to give Abyssinia to Italy (the 'Hoare-Laval Pact').
Source C

Results 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)