abyssinia crisis

• italy pre-abyssinia crisis

  mussolini wanted to establish modern roman empire

  knew britain and france would accomodate him so he stays in stresa front

  saw league's weaknesses in corfu + manchuria

  wanted revenge for 1896 halo-ethiopian war
• stresa front


  france, italy, britain against nazi germany
• abyssinia crisis


  dec 1934 - border clash between italy and abyssinians at wal wal oasis

  ethiopia appealed to league but inconclusive

  mussolini-laval accord decided by britain and france outside league telling italy it can occupy abyssinia

  june 1935 - emperor of ethiopia addresses inaction

  nothing happens, oct 1935 italy troops attack

  addis ababa captured, war crimes committed, italy left league
• league's reaction to abyssinia crisis

  suez canal could've closed by br + fr to stop mussolini but they didnt

  arbitration requests responded months after

  british military response weakened abyssinia even more as br removed navy from mediterranean and gave abyss + italy an arms embargo

  oct 1935 - economic sanctions on italy did not include oil or coal which was useless as it was their main import + us, swiss, german trade continued

  br + fr ministers proposed hoare-laval pact behind league's back
• hoare-laval pact

  appeased italy

  2/3 of east abyssinia given to italy

  this was leaked to press which exposed the league
• impact of abyssinia crisis on league

  built on manchurian impacts

  some people still trusted league after manchuria but not after abyssinia