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Mussolini wanted to make Italy, 'great, respected and feared.'...

First he had an adventurous foregin policy with the Corfu incident (1923) and the occupation of Fiume (1920)

His foreign policy was in two distinct stages

1923-34

Tried to be as diplomatic as possible
Rivalry with France and Ally Yugoslavia
He attended the Locarno Conference (1925)
- Dissapointed, but became international gauranteur anyway, along with Britain
He was friendly with Greece, Hungary and Albania
- Albania was virtually controlled by Italy
He cultivated good relationswith Britain
- Supported Britain and so got a small part of Somaliland
Recognised USSR
- non-agressuion pact with USSR (Sept 1933)
Bolstered Austria against the threat of Nazi Germany
- Supported Dolfuss (anti-Nazi)
- Sent three Italien divisions to frontier to prevent Nazi takeover of country when Dolfuss was assasinated.

Mussolini was now highly respected abroad - he was not happy though - his successes weren't big enough.

After 1934

Less suspicious of Hitler - now starting to admire his achievements - wanted to imitate him
In their first meeting (June 1934) Mussolini called HItler 'that mad little clown'
Later he believed there was more to gain from friendship between himself and Hitler than with Britain and France.
When Hitler introduced conscription - Italy along with France and Britain condemned the action. Britain and France avoided talk of the current situation in Abyssinia. Mussolini took this as though Britain and France would turn a blind eye

The Invasion of Abyssinia

turning point

Mussolini's motive for the attack
Italy's existing colonies were not very rewarding
Italy was suffering from the depression - this victory would divert peoples attention and provide a new market for Italian goods.
Would please nationalists and colonialists, since defeat in 1896.
Would therefore increase his poularity

It illustrated the ineffectiveness of collective security

The League of Nations condemned Italian agression
Applied economic sanctons (not including oil, steel and coal)
Secret treaty of Hoare-Laval to give 2/3 of Abyssinia to Italy. It failed to outrage of public when the plan leaked.

Reasons for weak stand against Italy

The results - were disastrous

The League of Nations and the idea of collective security were discredited
Mussolini was annoyed by the sanctions anyway, and began to be drawn towards Hitler
Mussolini dropped his objection ot Hitlers invasion of Austria
Hitler took advantage of everyones preocupation with Abyssinia to invade the Rhineland
When the Spanish civil war broke out (1936) Mussolini supporte d Franco, the Facist leader to try and set up a third Facist state in Europe. His excuse was that he was preventing the spread of communism.
Signed the Rome-Berlin Axis (1936)
Signed the Anti Commintern pact (1937)
His popularity revived due to the Munich agreement (September 1938)
(April 1939) Italian troops occupied Albania. Wanted to mimic Hitlers invasion of Czechoslovakia
Pact of Steel (May 1939)

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by: Admin
Total views: 2915
Word Count: 932
Date: Sat, 20 May 2006 Time: 12:00 AM
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