30s - abysinnia + manchuria

• long term reason for manchuria

  • they didn't have raw materials like coal and iron (imported by china)
  • mountainous land meant couldn't grow food (imported from china)
  • manchurian railway carried all goods to japan
• great depression issue for manchuria

  • USA and China put tariffs on Japan's goods so people would rather buy local and benefit their own economies
• army's influence in manchuria

  • said they needed their own empire to provide resources and create a market for japanese goods
• trigger event manchuria

  Mukden Incident (Sep 1931)

  • japan said china blew up part of the railway
  • used as an excuse to invade
• what did japan do to get control of Manchuria

  1. invaded the Jehol province
  2. set up a government in Manchuria
  3. Left the League
• why did britain and france not send troops to japan

  • both suffering economically due to great depression
  • didn't want to fight a way so far away
  • wouldn't be strong without US and USSR
  • didn't want to anger Japan and create a bigger conflict
  • had colonies in SEA and didn't want to threaten them
• what did the LoN do in manchuria?

  • 12 months after crisis Lord Lytton submitted his report (way too late)
  • said Japan acted unlawfully and should leave Manchuria
  • Feb 1933 - league voted for japan to leave manchuria
  • Japan disagreed and left the League
  • LoN discussed and realised they couldn't do anything
• background of abynnissia

  • was last remaining independent state in africa ruled by Haile Selassi
  • Italy owned colonies (eritrea + somaliland) either side of it
  • italy tried to overtake in 1896 but defeated (humiliating and wanted revenge)
  • Mussolini wanted revenge and to boost his popularity
  • Dec 1934: easy opportunity after dispute 80km inside Abyssinia - easy victory
  • Selassi appeals for help from LoN
• Phase 1 of Abyssinia


  Jan 1935 to Oct 1935:

  • Mussolini negotiating with League but also preparing his troops
  • Britain + France played for time bc they wanted good relations with Italy (even signed Stresa Pact against German rearmament)
  • British people wanted to defend Abyssinia but nothing ever happened
  • agreed neither side was to blame and part of Abyssinia given to Italy - Mussolini rejected
• Phase 2 of Abyssinia 


  Oct 1935 to May 1936:

  • Mussolini launches full scale invasion with tanks, airplanes, poison gas
  • Very clearly went against the league's aims
  • Covenant decided sanctions had to be taken and quickly
  • League stopped arms sales, imports and loans to Italy but took 2 months to decide about oils
  • Suez Canal owned by France and Britain left open - route to Abyssinia
• what was Hoare-Laval pact

  • Dec 1935
  • pact between Britain + France that no one knew about
  • planned to give 2/3 Abyssinia to Italy without discussing with League or Selassie
  • Laval said if Britain didn't agree, they'd stop sanctions against Italy
  • leaked to French Press and Selassie demanded debate -all leaders fired
• why did league fail to help abyssinia

  • conflict between collective security and maintaining peace with italy
  • hard to do both, ended up doing neither
  • took a while to decide abt oil sales which could've been a deal breaker, but italy already controlled too much
  • america actually increased sales because they were disgusted by France and Britain's indecisiveness
• consequences of failure at Abyssinia

  • hitler saw mussolini's success and marched troops to Rhineland (defying ToV)
  • French refused to sanction Italy as they wanted support
  • Italy annexed whole country and Selassie forced into exile
  • collective security failed
  • Mussolini + Hitler signed agreement called Rome-Berlin Axis
  • League looked weak and useless