Post by Diarist on Dec 20, 2015 16:18:10 GMT 1
The Italian invasion of Abyssinia without a formal declaration of war has been greeted with widespread condemnation and Italy has been declared the aggressor. Although the Italians were declared the aggressor, all they have received is a bad reputation. There are no immediate repercussions from this. The League sanctions will take much longer however because the League has to use a procedural device in order to avoid Italy's veto power.
During the arms build-up the major countries, such as Germany, United States, and the USSR were all silent on this issue, and they took no individual action as a country to try to stop this war from happening. They continued their trade, including those of war supplies such as crude oil, coal, and other necessities. France and the United Kingdom had not formally imposed sanctions on Italy but their industries were discouraged from doing business with Italy. Because the LoN procedures would take a month or more to finalize the United Kingdom offered to close the Suez Canal to all Italian shipping and would consider closing it to the shipping of any other nation supplying Italy with war supplies. Italy replied by threatening to invade Egypt and capture the Suez Canal. The United Kingdom's proposal was rejected in favour of formal procedures.
France and the United Kingdom objected against formal sanction procedures arguing that the war could be over before anything has been decided. They had no support from other nations. Nothing further was decided against Italy so the Council adjourned with no date set for the next meeting. The British and French Foreign Secretaries flew to Paris where Stanley Baldwin was meeting the French PM Sarraut. After an hour of deliberations they decided to support Abyssinia and would announce the closure of the Suez Canal at midday tomorrow. PM Baldwin left for London.
During the arms build-up the major countries, such as Germany, United States, and the USSR were all silent on this issue, and they took no individual action as a country to try to stop this war from happening. They continued their trade, including those of war supplies such as crude oil, coal, and other necessities. France and the United Kingdom had not formally imposed sanctions on Italy but their industries were discouraged from doing business with Italy. Because the LoN procedures would take a month or more to finalize the United Kingdom offered to close the Suez Canal to all Italian shipping and would consider closing it to the shipping of any other nation supplying Italy with war supplies. Italy replied by threatening to invade Egypt and capture the Suez Canal. The United Kingdom's proposal was rejected in favour of formal procedures.
France and the United Kingdom objected against formal sanction procedures arguing that the war could be over before anything has been decided. They had no support from other nations. Nothing further was decided against Italy so the Council adjourned with no date set for the next meeting. The British and French Foreign Secretaries flew to Paris where Stanley Baldwin was meeting the French PM Sarraut. After an hour of deliberations they decided to support Abyssinia and would announce the closure of the Suez Canal at midday tomorrow. PM Baldwin left for London.