Examine the reasons for the failure of the League of Nations to deal with Italian aggression in Abyssinia.

The question requires that candidates consider the interrelationship between the actions of the League of Nations and Italian aggression in Abyssinia. Reasons for the League’s failure may predate the timeframe but must be clearly linked to the issue raised in the question. Candidates may refer to the weakness of the League, withdrawal of major powers, reluctance of Britain and France to undermine the Stresa Front, and the lack of enthusiasm for military action in Britain and France. Abyssinia as an African country was not a vital interest to other countries as shown by the proposed Hoare–Laval pact and the limited resistance by the Abyssinians, which made intervention less likely. While other relevant interrelationships, for example, the rise of Germany and the Manchurian Crisis, may be considered, the bulk of the response will remain on the issue raised in the question.

The question required candidates to consider the inter-relationships between the actions of the League of Nations and Italian aggression in Ethiopia. Many responses considered some of the weaknesses of the League with varying degrees of accuracy and detail. Stronger responses examined the position of Ethiopia and analysed more deeply the attitudes of key League members such as Britain and France with respect to the Stresa front and the Hoare-Laval Pact.