Definition
On October 3, 1935 Italian armed forces invaded Ethiopia without a declaration of war leading Ethiopia to declare war on Italy. On October 7, the League of Nations declared Italy the aggressor and started the slow process of imposing sanctions. However, these sanctions did not extend to several vital materials, such as oil, and were not carried out by all members of the League. Specifically, the United Kingdom and France did not take any serious action against Italy (such as blocking Italian access to the Suez Canal).
France and Britain desperately wanted to keep Italy on side because they needed a third ally in Europe to negate the increasing threat posed by Hitler's Germany.
The failure of the Hoare-Laval Pact annoyed Mussolini to the point where he looked to Hitler for support instead. Thus, the exact opposite of what Britain and France wanted actually occurred.
The lack of credibility of the League stopping Italian aggression only further encouraged German re-arming, as they realized the League would not be able to step in, even if it wanted to.
Significance
This incident resulted from the ongoing conflict between the Kingdom of Italyand the Empire of Ethiopia (Abyssinia). The crisis brought an end to peace in Europe and it was clear by 1937, when Italy left the League of Nations, there were two defining sides in Europe.
On October 3, 1935 Italian armed forces invaded Ethiopia without a declaration of war leading Ethiopia to declare war on Italy. On October 7, the League of Nations declared Italy the aggressor and started the slow process of imposing sanctions. However, these sanctions did not extend to several vital materials, such as oil, and were not carried out by all members of the League. Specifically, the United Kingdom and France did not take any serious action against Italy (such as blocking Italian access to the Suez Canal).
Significance
This incident resulted from the ongoing conflict between the Kingdom of Italyand the Empire of Ethiopia (Abyssinia). The crisis brought an end to peace in Europe and it was clear by 1937, when Italy left the League of Nations, there were two defining sides in Europe.