How far was Mussolini's foreign policies achieved to make Italy a great power Flashcards
1
Q
What was Mussolini’s aims in foreign policy
A
- FP was high on his political agenda, being inspired by D’Annunzio, and wanted to assert Italy as a great power.
- Standing up to its territorial claims, possibly revising the Versailles settlements to overcome the shame of the ‘mutilated victory’.
- Expanding Italian influence in South Eastern Europe and the Meditteranian (unfairly dominated by the UK) and empire restorations with Libya and Abysinnia to increase Italian prestige and influence, whilst supporting autarky and wealth.
- More erratic and opportunistic, maximising his prestige rather than achieving any material for Italy. Especially as his methods changed in the 40s as fascism consolidated and grew more aggressive.
2
Q
Impact of foreign policy success
Corfu (1923)
A
- Revenge for the murder of an Italian general, Tellini, who led an inter-allied commission on drawing the border between Greece and Albania.
- Mussolini blamed the Greek Government - demanded 50 million lire and invaded Corfu without warning on Aug 31, occupying the island.
- Celebrated by Italian nationalists but the League of Nations, with British backing, demanded Mussolini end the occupation and put the issue to international arbitration.
- Left Corfu on Sept 27 but still received the 50 million lire.
3
Q
How did the incident of Corfu change Mussolini’s tactics briefly
A
- Confrontation with Greece led to some opposition from the League of Nations.
- Despite some angry rhetoric against the LON - more careful through the 1920s and aimed to negotiate, rather than have this aggressive foreign policy,
- Achieved success domestically that Mussolini was a dynamic ruler willing to engage in decisive action to stand up with Italian national pride - contrasted the liberal government in respect to foreign policy and cemented his power in Italy.
4
Q
Fiume (1924)
A
- Persuaded Yugoslavia to give back Fiume, an Italian-speaking town gifted because of the Treaty of Versailles = a diplomatic success, especially regarding the historical memory of d’Annunzio’s occupation of Fiume.
- Gained confidence to expand his empire further in the Balklands and international support and domestic support, setting him apart from the liberal government.
5
Q
Albania (1925-34)
A
- Resented the French influence in the area and wanted Albania to be an Italian satelite state.
- Italy-sponsered Chieftan took power called Ahmed Zog - encouraged Italians to invest in the region and the Italian officers advised the Albanian army.
- Through Zog’s support and bribery, Albania became an informal Italian protectorate - extending Italian influence in south eastern Europe at the expense of Yugoslavia by also providing support to the nationalist movements that aimed for separation from the newly created Yugoslav state.
6
Q
Lorcano Treaty (1925)
A
- Mussolini was involved in leading these negotiations himself between the UK, France and Italy.
- Confirmed Germany’s Western border wouldn’t be changed but opened up the Eastern borders to future revision and allowed Germany to join the League of Nations.
- Gave Mussolini prestige internationally and domestically his positive role in the negotiations contributed to his popularity.
7
Q
Kellog-Briand Treaty (1928)
A
- Joined the pact to ensure peace - signed by 62 nations to settle international disputes without going to war.
- Fascist propaganda presented Mussolini as an international statesmen, central to reaching peaceful agreements despite rarely being present.
- Seen to be building positive relations with Britain and France.
8
Q
Libya (1929-1932)
A
- Mussolini’s continued the liberal government’s ‘Pacification of Libya’ - brutually crushed the Libyan rebellion in 1932.
- The Fascists used poison gased which was outlawed in the Treaty of Versailles - justified by Mussolini as the law only accounts for European War, not other regions).
- 1/3 of the population were killed or had starved to death = first example of the fascist regime’s brutality and was a foretast of the tactics later used in Abyssinia.
9
Q
Relations with Britain/France and Germany
Relations with Britain
A
- Ambigiou until 1936 - shared a friendly relationship:
- UK fought with them in WWI. Friendly with prominent politicans like Churchill and Chamberlin. UK helped Italy in its ambitions concerning Albania, after Italy helped pressure Turkey to give Mosul to British colony Iraq.
- Simultaneously clashing with M’s territorial claims in the Meditteranian - he supported pro-Italian forces in Malta and tried to build up Italy’s military to challenge UK naval power.
- ISSUE = economic dependent on UK govt and markets.
10
Q
Relations with France
A
- Affected by how many anti-fascist exiles settled there.
- Viewed as a rival, as a Meditteranian power, to its imperialist aims = French thought that Italy would use the fact that Tunisa, a French African colony, had several Italian settlers to gain control of the country.
- Ambient = understood French power and influence in Europe and was prepared to collaborate regarding aspects like the Lorcano Treaty. However - raised the possibility of anti-French alliances with Germany, Spain and Hungary (failed).
11
Q
Original Relations with Germany
A
- Contemptous to Weimar - ‘ran by socialists and pacifists’ and supported German nationalists groups who sought to overthrow W. However, he feared Anschluss and sought to encourage German goals of revising the TOV.
- Hitler praised M and they exchanged letters, promising to pursue a German-Italian alliance if he became Chancellor.
12
Q
Four Power Acts (1933)
A
- After Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor, Mussolini brought Britain, France, Germany and Italy together to try prevent a German ‘Annschluss’, as the buffer between Germany and Italy would be taken away.
- Tried to appease and control Germany by offering territory changes to the Treaty of Versailles with UK support in parity in military aims.
- FAILED = tried to avoid going through the League of Nations to reach agreements, yet Britain and France never ratified the treaty. Germany withdraw and continued to try perform Anschluss - stopped by Italy but Hitler simply wanted to build good relations and solidify his power (not easy to control).
13
Q
Stresa Front (1935)
Why was it formed?
A
- APRIL 11-13th = Mussolini met with French and British FM/PMs to discuss a response to Hitler’s open violation of the TOV of military rearmament .
- Failed to do much except issue a continuing resolution stating the desire for peace and their commitment to the LON.
14
Q
What was the more crucial impact of the Stresa Front on Italy’s growing colonial ambitions in Africa?
A
- Mussolini discussed with the French FM, Laval, about reaching an anti-German agreement with the French govt if they approved Italian plans to colonise Abyssinia.
- At Stresa - claimed to reach an implicit agreement to support Italy’s imperialistic goals in Africa, adding ‘in Europe’ to the resolution supporting collective security, as a trade-off for Italy’s anti-German action.
- Believed B/F wouldn’t break SF to prevent M pursuing his imperialistic goals like B/F had for centuries. But the UK govt claimed it hadn’t understood the significance of M’s insertion and that Laval argued it only approved Italy’s economic penetration of Abyssinia.
- Regardless, M’s colonial war was the turning point turning B/F against Italy and closer to allying with Hitler.
15
Q
Conclusion
A
- Appeared as a moderate statesman and increase personal and Italian prestige, increasing public support for Mussolini’s leadership.
- Signed the Lorcano Treaty, Kellog-Briand Pact and used international meetings as propaganda opportunities.
- The West (Britain and France) saw Italy as reasonable.
- Could be more aggressive with smaller nations.
