Model League of Nations Study Guide

Committee: League of Nations Assembly

Topic: 1936 - Finding a final solution to resolve the Italo - Ethiopian conflict

The date of the committee is 1 August, 1936. Just a day before the session the exiled
Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie gave a powerful speech to the Assembly, warning, and
asking the League for a last attempt at resolving the conflict and giving independence back to
Ethiopia. At this time, Ethiopia has been officially, although not recognized by some, annexed as
a part of the Italian Kingdom. The Assembly delegates are energetically running around the
halls, preparing for the session, which shall be the final attempt to resolve the conflict. The clock
is ticking as the session is about begin, where the League of Nations Assembly and its some of
its delegates will wage and attempt to restore Ethiopia as a sovereign nation, ensuring that peace
will be maintained and the League will be powerful, while others will use different forms of
appeasement to solve the conflict in their own interests. The clock is ticking, for possibly the
most important debate in the history of this organisation!

In late November, 1934, a group of British officers and Ethiopian troops arrived at the
Walwal fort in Abyssinia. The British were asked to investigate whether the location of the
Italian fort at Walwal violated the Italo-Ethiopian Treaty from 1928, which determined the
border between Ethiopia and Italian Somaliland. On 5th December, tensions between Italians and
Ethiopians reached the top, and shortly after, a skirmish broke out. Both sides had casualties. The
League did not find any of the sides guilty, however, this incident would be what Mussolini
would use to justify his invasion.
The British and French were generally not concerned with Italy’s actions in Ethiopia, as
they wanted to upkeep the good relations between them, and for the purpose of the Stresa Front,
allowed, according to Mussolini, to give him a free hand in Ethiopia. When Mussolini moved his
troops to Eritrea, and the populace was almost entirely ready for the war, Britain attempted to
appease Mussolini with a treaty giving him some areas of Ethiopia, however, it was quickly
rejected by Mussolini.
 On October 3, 1935, Italy attacked Ethiopia without an official declaration of war, using
the incident at Walwal as an excuse. About 100,000 soldiers have crossed the northern border.
Emperor Haile Selassie almost immediately ordered a general mobilisation of men. Four days
later, the League condemned the invasion, declaring Italy an aggressor, however, it did not do
much to stop the conflict.
Germany has provided weapons to Ethiopia, as
Hitler wanted to slow down the Italian advance, however, the
weapons provided were slow to send, and they were not
enough to stop the invasion. Another country which tried to
provide help to the soldiers fighting in Ethiopia, was India.
The mayor of Bombay had organised charities and sent
medicine, nurses, and doctors to provide medical assistance for Ethiopian soldiers.
Later in 1935, the League of Nations voted to impose economic sanctions on Italy. These
had no real effect, as the sanctions excluded certain goods, like oil, which Britain and France
were reliant on, and it did not hurt Italy a lot either. In fact, the sanctions made the fascist regime
in Italy even more popular, due to propaganda turning them around. By the end of 1935, Hoare
and Laval attempted to make a secret pact with Italy, giving them ⅔ of Ethiopia. However, when
the document was leaked, Italy opted out, and Hoare and Laval were forced to resign.
Ethiopia had no chance to win, using
outdated rifles, spears and bows, against the
strength of Italy, which even used chemical
weapons to poison the Ethiopian troops, and
flamethrowers against Ethiopians, even civilians.

There was one significant event where Ethiopia

got the upper hand, though. It was the Christmas
Offensive, a series of battles and advances
intending to split Italian armies into two. The
offensive has failed overall, however, Ethiopians
successfully pushed back the Italians, slowing them down. Italy has proclaimed that they abolish
slavery and are bringing civilization as a justification for their actions. By April, Italians were
marching onto the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Abeba. On May 2, 1936, Haile Selassie boarded a
train to Djibouti, going to his exile in Britain. On May 5,1936, Italian forces marched into the
capital, slaughtering and massacring the population. On May 7, Ethiopia was officially annexed
by Italy.
Before going to exile, Haile Selassie gave one last speech to the LON Assembly in
Geneva. He warned the LON that this will not be the end of conflicts, and that soon Italy would
be after other countries too. He famously said “It is us today, but it will be you tomorrow”, which
ominously showed that the expansion of fascism will continue, and soon Europe will be under its
attack.
 Britain and France appeased the invasion, as they were afraid and weaker in the light of
the growing German strength. However, among the countries that condemned the invasion and
strongly opposed it, such as Greece, New Zealand,
Romania, or Czechoslovakia, there were six which never
formally recognized the annexation. They were the Spanish
Republic, New Zealand, Republic of China, USSR, USA
and Mexico. Mexico was one of the few which strongly
opposed and condemned the Italian annexation, and
supported Ethiopia throughout the conflict. In the US, Haile
Selassie was seen as a hero, and was incorporated into
American culture as a fallen emperor, especially among
African-Americans.

Questions to consider when writing your position paper:

- What was your country’s reaction to the invasion?(Condemn/ignore/support?)
- Has your country strongly opposed the invasion, or has it tried to appease Italy?
- Did your country formally recognize the annexation of Ethiopia?
- Has your country voted in favour of the sanctions imposed on Italy?(How are
trade relations between your country and Italy?)
- Has your country aided Ethiopia/Italy in any way?(Medicine, food, weapons,
volunteers, fundraisers)