Abyssinian Crisis: Mussolini, the League of Nations & Failure
Phase 2 (October 1935 to May 1936)
Mussolini’s army was ready. Despite brave resistance, the Abyssinians were no match for the modern Italian army equipped with tanks, aeroplanes, and poison gas. It was a clear-cut case of a large, powerful state attacking a smaller one.
Sanctions were introduced against the aggressor. A committee was formed to agree on the sanctions. The League imposed an immediate ban on arms sales to Italy while allowing them to Abyssinia. It banned all loans to Italy. It banned all imports from Italy and the exports to Italy of rubber and metals.
The League feared that Americans would not support the sanctions and that its members’ economic interests would be further damaged.
The Suez Canal (owned by Britain and France) was not closed to Mussolini’s supply ships and supply route to Abyssinia. Those countries (Britain & France) were afraid of a war if they had closed it.
British (Hoare) and French (Laval) foreign ministers were dealing secretly. This aimed to give Mussolini two-thirds of Abyssinia in return for his calling off his invasion. This was seen as a blatant act of treachery against the League.
The question was whether to ban oil sales or not. But discussions lasted so long that Mussolini had invaded most of Abyssinia. Americans were even more disgusted with the dithering of the French and the British than they had been before and so blocked a move to support the League’s sanctions.
Abyssinia Obtained
On March 7, 1936, Hitler marched his troops into the Rhineland (an act prohibited by the Treaty of Versailles). France was desperate to gain the support of Italy and was now prepared to pay the price of giving Abyssinia to Mussolini.
In May 1936, Mussolini took the capital of Abyssinia (Addis Ababa).
On May 2, Haile Selassie was forced into exile.
On May 9, Mussolini annexed the entire country. The League was helpless; it had failed.
Britain and France hoped that their handling of the Abyssinian crisis would help them defeat Hitler, but in November 1936, Mussolini and Hitler signed the Rome-Berlin Axis.
Why Did the League of Nations Fail?
- The Self-Interest of Leading Members: The League depended on Britain and France to provide firm support. When conflicts occurred, neither Britain nor France was prepared to abandon its own self-interest to support the League.
- Economic Sanctions Did Not Work: Sanctions were supposed to be the League’s main weapon, but members of the League didn’t impose them because they were worried that without the USA they would not work.
- The Treaties It Had to Uphold Were Seen as Unfair: The League was bound to uphold the peace treaties which had created it. It was apparent that some of the terms of those treaties were harsh and unjust. This undermined the League.
- Decisions Were Slow: It was supposed to act quickly and determined. But instead, it met too infrequently and took long to make decisions.
- Lack of Troops: Military sanctions were the second option. The League relied upon the co-operation of its members because it had no armed forces.
- The USA and Other Important Countries Were Absent: Germany was not a member until 1926 and left in 1933; the USSR did not join until 1934; Japan left in 1934 and Italy in 1937. The USA was never a member. Without such major powers, it lacked authority, and sanctions were not effective.