The League of Nations & the Abyssinian Crisis | History for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

Causes of the Abyssinian Crisis

• Abyssinia was a country in the north-east of Africa. It is now called Ethiopia.
• British, French, and Italian colonies surrounded Abyssinia. Despite this, Abyssinia maintained its independence.

Events of the Abyssinian Crisis

Consequences of the Abyssinian Crisis

• The Abyssinian Crisis underscored the selfish interests of Britain and France.
  • The Hoare-Laval Pact aimed to satisfy Mussolini to protect Britain and France’s imperial interests in East Africa.
  • Britain and France avoided taking decisive action against Italy.
    • They did not close the Suez Canal, allowing Italy sea access to Abyssinia.
  • Britain and France had recently signed the Stresa Front (1935) with Mussolini, an agreement against Nazi Germany.
    • This alliance appeared more important to France and Britain than protecting Abyssinia.
    • Britain and France failed to secure a long-lasting alliance with Italy.
      • In 1936, Italy and Germany formed the Rome-Berlin Axis.
• The incident reaffirmed the League’s weakness without the USA.
  • The USA continued selling oil to Italy.
    • The League feared that imposing oil sanctions on Italy would not gain US support.
    • Consequently, Italy continued to have access to essential war resources.

The League of Nations After 1936

• After 1936, the League of Nations underwent a significant decline in reputation.
  • It lacked authority in influencing international relations.
  • The League had no power or sway over aggressive nations.
• The world inched closer towards a global conflict.
  • Hitler embarked on an aggressive territorial expansion in Europe.
    • Incidents like the ones in Manchuria and Abyssinia showcased Hitler's unchecked actions.
• The League's inability to maintain global peace was evident.
  • The invasion of Poland by Hitler in September 1939 marked the onset of the Second World War.
    • During the Second World War, no official meetings of the League's Assembly or Council took place.
    • The League officially disbanded in April 1946, transferring its authority to the United Nations.
• Post-1936, the League managed to find success through its humanitarian initiatives.
  • Some historians argue that the League's humanitarian efforts post-1936 shed a different light on its legacy.
    • Entities like the Permanent Court of Justice and the International Labour Organization became integral parts of the United Nations.
    • The Health Commission evolved into what is now known as the World Health Organization.