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League of Nations - Italy and Abyssinia
Created by anna jordan on September 10, 2009, 12:36 pm. Report this group | FAQ
Categorized under: World War II, Teaching Resources - Schools
Italy was a permanent member of the council of the League of Nations. Nevertheless, in late 1934 Mussolini attacked Abyssinia (modern day Ethiopia). This was arguably in retalliation for the Italian defeat at Adowa in 1896, or a bid to expand Italian Imperial possessions in Africa. Mussolini used the pretext of a (staged) incident at WalWal to send in troops already stationed in Somaliland and Eritrea. A further invasion was later launched in October 1935. Mussolini's actions sounded the death knell for the League as a credible peace keeping force, principally because of the League's failure to respond appropriately. The League had 3 weapons at its disposal - moral condemnation, arbitration and economic sanctions. Clearly only the latter was viable in this case. The League ordered its members to impose sanctions. These sanctions were fundamentally ineffective as they excluded an oil embargo - the only viable sanction for halting the Italian war effort.
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Reference number:
DL0929
Caption
Self-Portrait
Embedded text
Map of the Western Front
The League? Pah! The League is contemptible! The League can do nothing!
But aren't YOU the League ?
Rights and wrongs of Abyssinia
Western Civilization
Notes
Alongside Britain, France and Japan, Italy had been a permanent member of the Council of the League of Nations since the League was established. In 1931 Japan invaded the Chinese province of Manchuria. The League's reaction was moral condemnation but no practical attempt to curb Japanese aggression. This incident illustrated that the League was powerless against determinedly aggressive actions. In late 1934 Mussolini took the initiative and attacked Abyssinia (modern day Ethiopia). This was arguably in retalliation for the Italian defeat at Adowa in 1896, or a bid to expand Italian Imperial possessions in Africa. Mussolini used the pretext of a (staged) incident at WalWal to send in troops already stationed in Somaliland and Eritrea. A further invasion was later launched in October 1935. Mussolini's actions sounded the death knell for the League as a credible peace keeping force.
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Archival reference number
DL0929
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Copyright contact details
Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT solo@solosyndication.com
Additional details
Size
33.1 x 47.3cm
Technique
black ink
