Origins of World War II, 1919­1941 Primary Document Analysis – Italy and Abyssinia The following 8 primary documents relate to circumstances surrounding the Italian invasion of Abyssinia in 1935 and the subsequence response by the League of Nations. Your group Your group has been given the task of analysing 2 of the 8 resources and answering the related questions. Your group will report back to the class on the 2 resources in the next lesson. Recommended It is recommended that you have a look at all 8 resources so that you will have a reasonable understanding of them when other groups report back on theirs. Focus Questions As you work through each resource think about the answer to these 2 questions: 1. Why did Mussolini attack Abyssinia? 2. What could the League of Nations have done to prevent the invasion? Background In the last lesson “Italy and Abyssinia; Failure of the League” you did some reading on this topic and would have seen some in class video. This background information should help you with this task. If you need to then go back over the online textbook reading for the topic. The Resources: 1. Sections of a speech by Mussolini to the Fascist Grand Council, 7 April 1932, on plans to change the peace terms agreed after World War I. 2. Despatch from the British ambassador in Rome, Sir Eric Drummond, on the opinion of the Italian people, November 1935. 3. Report from a British diplomat in Naples to the British Ambassador in Rome, 4 February 1936. 4. Telegram from Antony Eden, Minister for League of Nations Affairs and soon to be British Foreign Secretary, on the League's response to the crisis, Oct 1935. 5. A secret plan drawn up by the British and French foreign ministers, Hoare and Laval, 10 December 1935. 6. Statement about a meeting between British Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin, and a deputation from the League of Nations on 13 December 1935. 7. Telegram from Antony Eden, the British Minister for League of Nations Affairs, on French attitudes, September 1935. 8. Letter from Dino Grandi, Italian ambassador in London, to Galeazzo Ciano, Foreign Minister and Mussolini’s son­in­law, 6 November 1936, on Italian­German relations.
­ 1 ­ RESOURCE 1 Sections of a speech by Mussolini to the Fascist Grand Council, 7 April 1932, on plans to change the peace terms agreed after World War 1 Resource 1 Questions: 1. Which countries does Mussolini see as Italy’s rivals? 2. Why might Mussolini believe that there is no advantage for Italy to stick with the way peace was settled at Versailles after World War I? 3. What is Mussolini talking about when he refers to the “colonial clauses” of the peace treaty after World War I? 4. What is Mussolini’s opinion of the League of Nations? 5. What is stopping Mussolini from leaving the League of Nations?
­ 2 ­ RESOURCE 2 Despatch from the British ambassador in Rome, Sir Eric Drummond, on the opinion of the Italian people, November 1935 Resource 2 Questions: 1. According to this source, how popular was war with the Italian people in the first month? 2. How did their feelings change?
­ 3 ­ RESOURCE 3 Report from a British diplomat in Naples to the British Ambassador in Rome, 4 February 1936 Resource 3 Questions: 1. When this report was written, the war had been going for five months without many Italian victories. How happy do the Italian people appear to be? 2. What factors have made matters worse? 3. According to this letter, did sanctions have a large impact on Italy?
­ 4 ­ RESOURCE 4 Telegram from Antony Eden, Minister for League of Nations Affairs and soon to be British Foreign Secretary, on the League's response to the crisis, Oct 1935 Resource 4 Questions: 1. According to paragraph 1, what is the League of Nations proposing to do? 2. In paragraph 2, what new policy is the League of Nations about to employ? 3. Who would this help and how? 4. What would be Mussolini's likely response to the League of Nation's decision? 5. Was there anything else the League could have done at this point to protect Abyssinia? 6. What reasons might there have been for them not taking more action?
­ 5 ­ RESOURCE 5 A secret plan drawn up by the British and French foreign ministers, Hoare and Laval, 10 December 1935 Resource 5 Questions: 1. What is being proposed in the plan? 2. Who would benefit from this plan? 3. Hoare and Laval planned to present the proposal to Mussolini before showing it to the League of Nations or Haile Selassie. What does this plan show about the determination of Britain and France to stand up to Mussolini? 4. The plan was abandoned when the British public found out about it. Both foreign ministers were forced to resign. Were Hoare and Laval wrong to draw up this proposal? Explain your answer.
­ 6 ­ RESOURCE 6 Statement about a meeting between British Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin, and a deputation from the League of Nations on 13 December 1935 [resources continues over page]
­ 7 ­ Resource 6 Questions: 1. These representatives from the League of Nations wanted Britain to apply economic sanctions to Italy to hinder its war effort in Abyssinia. Baldwin decided to take no further action. Why? 2. What did the British government fear might happen if Britain stood up to Mussolini? 3. According to this source, what would be the chances of France getting involved? Why? 4. What other actions could Britain have taken to stop Mussolini?
­ 8 ­ RESOURCES 7 Telegram from Antony Eden, the British Minister for League of Nations Affairs, on French attitudes, September 1935 Resource 7 Questions: 1. According to Eden, which country worries France most? 2. According to Eden, do the French see the League of Nations as a vital international body that should be supported at all costs? 3. Do the French and the British share the same view on the need for firm action? 4. How does France's attitude affect the ability of the League of Nations to stand up to Mussolini? 5. ­ 9 ­ What other action could France have taken to stop Mussolini's invasion of Abyssinia?
RESOURCE 8 Letter from Dino Grandi, Italian ambassador in London, to Galeazzo Ciano, Foreign Minister and Mussolini’s son­in­law, 6 November 1936, on Italian­German relations Resource 8 Questions: 1. According to this source, how have relations changed between Italy and Germany? 2. What is Britain’s attitude to Italy? 3. Have Britain and France managed to maintain the balance of power in Europe? Give reasons to support your answer. 4. Does Grandi sound positive or negative towards closer relations between fascist Italy and Germany?
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