| Image | 
|
| Reference Number | LSE2513 |
| Alt Ref No | LSE2513 |
| Artist or Creator | David Low (1891-1963) |
| Title or Caption | "... He took water and washed his hands..." |
| Extent | 1 item |
| Published by | Evening Standard |
| Date | 20 Apr 1938 |
| Also published by | Original artwork owned by National Library of Australia ref: nla.pic-an6479517 |
| Format | Newspaper |
| Embedded text or transcript | Mediterrenean
Spain
Abyssinia |
| Person Depicted | Mussolini; Benito (1883-1945) |
| Chamberlain; Neville (Arthur Neville) (1869-1940) |
| Implied text | Bible: Matthew 27:24: "When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it." re: the decision to crucify Jesus. |
| Notes | News: 16 Apr: Rome. An Anglo-Italian pact is signed.
Mussolini had invaded Abyssinia (Ethiopia) in 1935, in contravention of his membership of the League of Nations which had involved signing a covenant of non-aggression. Britain, also a member of the League, had failed to support League (admittedly weak) sanctions against Italy, leaving the Suez Canal open for movement of Italian troops and supplies. This was purely a self-interested gesture, born out of desire to avoid antagonising Mussolini; Britain and France were both anxious to maintain Mussolini as an ally against Hitler, and Britain was also concerned for the safety of her naval bases in the mediterranean. Under the Anglo-Italian Pact of April 1938 Britain agreed to formally recognise Italian conquests in Abyssinia (Ethiopia) as legitimate. Italy, in return, agreed to withdraw Italian troops from Spain at the end of the Spanish Civil War. The agreement became operable on the conclusion of the Spanish Civil War. This was a trade off. Mussolini gained a powerful ally, which reduced her dependence on fellow fascist, Hitler. Britain had removed the fear of a fascist powerblock between Franco and Mussolini and could relax about her mediterranean interests. |
| Subjects | Ethiopia |
| International relations |
| Italy |
| Mediterranean Sea |
| Spain |
| Spanish civil war |
| UK |
| bible stories |
| blood |
| treaties |
| Copyright holder | Associated Newspapers Ltd. / Solo Syndication |
| Copyright contact details | Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT solo@solosyndication.com |
| Relates to cartoon | LSE2513 |
Show related Persons records.
Persons
| Code | PersonName | Dates | About | Multimedia | Image |
| GB/BCA/58 | Mussolini; Benito (1883-1945) | 1883-1945 | | | |
| GB/BCA/146 | Chamberlain; Neville (Arthur Neville) (1869-1940) | 1869-1940 | | | |