Abyssinia: März 2014

The victory of the Battle of Adwa made Ethiopia a symbol of freedom, which raised the status for this African Country, worldwide. However, the raised status and power of the Ethiopian Empire made it a 'prime-target' for the Italian vision of creating a greater, stronger and bigger empire. [1]

In 1934, the beginning of the Abyssinian Crisis was marked. A soldier, shooting at a random bird may have started the so-called “Wal-Wal” incident. The incident included factors like water (well) and undefined borders. Even though this incident was of major importance, Italy used it as an opportunity to claim Ethiopian Aggression. As “self-defense” Italy reinforced their troops bordering Ethiopia: Eritrea and Somaliland. [2] Haile Selassie (the emperor of that time from the Ethiopian Empire), asked the League of Nations for help, in which Ethiopia was a member of since 1930. Nevertheless the League of Nations failed to do something. January 1935, the emperor of Ethiopia asked the League of Nations to use their arbitration power, however the Italians rejected these attempts and on the 3 October 1935, Mussolini invaded Ethiopia from Eritrea and Italian Somaliland. The emperor of Abyssinia (Ethiopian Empire), once again, asked for help from the League of Nations; yet, the Italians were only condemned and still nothing had happened that changed the situation. Italy’s well trained 100 000 Men army used poison gas and have attacked Red Cross Hospitals until they finally have taken in the capital of Abyssinia – Addis Ababa on May 5 1936. [3] In June 1936, Italy, after all, created Italian East Africa formed by Italian Somaliland, Ethiopia and Eritrea. [1]

Mussolini's Triumph [4]

If you look closely at the diagram: Mussolini's Triumph, you can clearly see the two black marks, representing airplanes, indicate that Abyssinia got attacked from both the North and Southeast by not only soldiers but also air-force. This is suggesting the bombing of Abyssinia using air-force by Italy. Further information about the advance, the scale of the map is not given - a limitation of the actual source. [4]

The Stone Bomb Monument [5]

This thought is supported by the so called 'The Stone Bomb' monument. It literally is designed (by Eric Benfield) to look like an air-bomb (carved out of stone) and was situated in front of the commisionar's (Sylvia Pankhurst, English campaigner) cafe: Red Cottage in Woodford Green. The reason for the design and creation started when the commissioner, Sylvia Pankhurst, had a strong disapproval in 1932, when Britain bombed rebels in north-west India and in Burma. Additionally Mussolini's "Triumph" further infuriated her - setting up the task for Benfield in order to direct it at the people who took part in the Geneva conference (by the League of Nations) in February 1932 who ‘upheld the right to use bombing plane'. [6]

This source is a photograph of the actual Stone Bomb monument (date and photographer is unknown, which could influence facts by it being stolen and changed etc.) and an important piece of evidence from the past that reminds of the history that is connected with this monument (e.g. the Abyssinian Crisis). Adding on to the connections: it can be used when referred back to the Disarmament Conference, which was an important meeting that involved great public attention. [5]

Main Inscriptions on 'The Stone Bomb'

“To those who in 1932 upheld the right to use bombing aeroplanes...” “…this monument is raised as a protest against war in the air.” [7]

Australian newspaper reporting gas bombing in Abyssinia [8]

Mussolini's attack using poison gas and bombing was ethically more than wrong considering they attacked Red Cross Hospitals - making it impossible for people in Abyssinia, including women, children and men who have nothing to do with this conflict, to get any medical help.

As you can see in the Image of the Australian Newspaper, the news about Abyssinia and it's conflict with Italy are widespread around the World e.g. the news already came to Australia; and yet, no-one could do something to stop Italy of taking over Abyssinia.

Nevertheless, the clear influence of the press is seen, even alone in the sub-title 'Europe's Sympathy'. Europe has Sympathy? The press has its effect on how cities, nations and (in this case) whole continents are represented. It has the possibility on leaving out many facts that could have supported the other 'way of thinking'. Additionally, the reason for this strong influential title might have been because of further backgrounds and reasons. Furthermore, sympathy often does not involve any action taking place in order to change the current situation - if this is the case, why didn't Europe act? This source is not able to give that kind of information (articles are not readable). [8]

Haile Selassie I, Address to the League of Nations, 30 Jun, 1936 [7]

The Abyssinian Crisis is one example of an event that destroyed all belief in the League of Nations to stop conflicts and wars between nations. Clearly, when a powerful nation such as Italy simply ignored the League of Nations, they could do nothing about it, as sanctions appeared to be useless.

Haile Selassie I addressed the League of Nations on 30th June in 1936 to try solve the conflict between Abysinnia and Italy. On the photograph of Haile Selassie I, sadly it does not show any proper point out of which, you can infer if (on the photograph) this actually is Haile Selassie I and who on the image he is as well as who the other people are. [7]

The League of Nations tried to do something against the conflict by firstly condemning Italy and than ordering economical sanctions. However, these sanctions did not include vital elements like oil (which is needed for the war machines), due to the argument that Italy could get oil etc from America - a country not part of the League of Nations. Additionally the fear of Italy, scared of Britain and France to get attacked by the Italian navy, which was overestimated largely by these members of the League. [9]

In December 1935, information about the Hoare-Laval Pact where brought to the population, which should have kept secret. In this Pact, it was said that Abyssinia would give large pieces of land (of North and South Abyssinia) to Italy and in return, Italy would stop invading. The Abyssinian only would have received a small gap in between these two lands, named the corridor of camels. This pact was made by the prime minister of France (Pierre Laval) and the secretary of Britain (Samuel Hoare). [3]

Nevertheless, as soon as the British population found out about this pact, thoughts and believes about betrayal where communicated through protests. This forced Hoare to dismiss the plan and therefore Mussolini continued with the invasion of Abyssinia. This failed plan and the failure of the sanctions clearly represents the disastrous involvement of the League of Nations. [10]

Additionally, slow reactions as well as delays harmed the League of Nations’ appearance making it look weak and scared. Adding on to that, smaller nations realized that couldn’t protect them. [3] On May 9^th 1936, Ethiopia withdrew the membership of the League of Nations followed by others e.g. Honduras in June 22 and Nicaragua in June 26. [11]

Two figures sit on a cracked stone, which carries the inscription: 'League of Nations. Foundation stone of a New Order, laid 1918. Peace hath her sacrifices.' [12]

Building onto the smaller withdraws of memberships, Italy left the League of Nations in 1937 and all of the nations started to re-arm because of the failure of keeping peace by the League. In 1939, when war broke out the League closed down and the headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland were kept empty. 12 April, 1946 the League of Nations met the last time and formally put an end to the League. Robert Cecil, the British representation in this meeting, said: 'The League is dead. Long live the United Nations'. [13]

The cartoon, drawn by David Low and published in the Evening Newspaper shows to depressed men from two different 'ranks' - rich on the left considering the cylinder, good-looking coat etc and poor on the right, shown by the small hat, dirty coat etc. Drawing figures of different ranks probably is meant by the cartoonist to represent whole of (in this case) Britain as the different ranks of rich and poor often gets seen as being separate. Failure of the former League of Nations (whom where looked up to and put trust into) is shown by the cracked foundation stone of the League of Nations, which is now not worth more than simply a stone to 'sit on'. The vast land can be seen as the war that has been and the dark sky in the background with the canon suggests that another War is coming (World War II). Publicly shown cartoons generally are a good way to find the opinion of artists in the past, triggered by former events etc. However, these sources may only have the opinion of the artist, leaving out different perspectives of the happening. [12]

Without the help of the League of Nations, Ethiopia finally was freed in September 1940 by Britain and Patriot Ethiopian forces. [1]

[1] "Dead Country Stamps and Banknotes." Dead Country Stamps and Banknotes. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Mar. 2014. <http://www.dcstamps.com/?p=5367>.
[2] Harris, Brice. The United States and the Italo-Ethiopian Crisis. Stanford, CA: Stanford UP, 1964. Print.
[3] BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 5 Mar. 2014. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/mwh/ir1/manchuriarev3.shtml>.

[4] Mussolini's Triumph. Dead Country Stamps and Banknotes. Web. 4 Mar. 2014. <http://www.dcstamps.com/?p=5367>.
[5] "Memorial." London Remembers. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2014. <http://www.londonremembers.com/memorials/stone-bomb-anti-war-monument>.
[6] Wright, Patrick. "THE STONE BOMB AND SCULPTOR ERIC BENFIELD." The Stone Bomb and Sculptor Eric Benfield, by Patrick Wright. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2014. <http://www.sylviapankhurst.com/her_campaigns/the_stone_bomb/stonebomb_patrick_wright.php>.
[7] Haile Selassie I, Address to the League of Nations, 30 Jun, 1936. Dead Country Stamps and Banknotes. Web. 2 Mar. 2014. <http://www.dcstamps.com/?p=5367>.
[8] Mateer, Marshall. "‘The Stone Bomb’: The Anti-Abyssinian War Memorial |." International Brigades. Shapes of Time, July 2012. Web. 17 Mar. 2014. <http://shapesoftime.net.gridhosted.co.uk/?page_id=643>.
[9] "Abyssinia." Abyssinia. History Learning Site, n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2014. <http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/aby1.htm>.
[10] The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Hoare-Laval Pact." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2014. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/268400/Hoare-Laval-Pact>.

[11] "National Membership of the League of Nations." National Membership of the League of Nations. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Mar. 2014. <http://www.indiana.edu/~league/nationalmember.htm>.

[12] David Low. Evening Standard Newspaper, 11 November 1938. N.p., n.d. Web.

[13] Clare, John D. "Why the League Failed." JohnDClare. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Mar. 2014. <http://www.johndclare.net/league_of_nations8.htm>.

[1]

Menelik (a son of the Israel King Salomon and the Queen of Sheba) founded the Ethiopian Empire, stated by a legend.

The image above, shows the Emperor Menelik II. Artist (origin) as well as the purpose is unknown. Nevertheless, it informs people of how Menelik looked like in the past to give the audience a picture of him. The wrinkles drawn in his face either suggests the artist viewed him as a wise or old man. It would have been nice to see a 'full-body' image of him to analyze his appearance further e.g. clothing.

The Ethiopian Empire was a Jewish kingdom and was ruled until about 980 AD named Menelik Kingdom. Later on the Zagwe and the Salomnic Dynasty took over. [2] Starting in March 1, 1896 (in the time of the rule of the Salomnic Dynasty), the Ethiopian country started to have conflicts with Italy (First Italo–Ethiopian War, Battle of Adwa). The military clashes of the Italian army and the forces of King Menelik II in north-central Ethiopia ended up in an Ethiopian victory. [3] The reason for this war started when the Italians tried to cheat Menelik by creating two versions of the treaty of Wichale, which were signed in 1889. Article 17, in this treaty stated, in the Italian version:

“The Emperor consents to use the Italian government for all the business he does with all the other Powers or Governments.”

However reading differently in the Amharic version it said:

“The Emperor has the option to communicate with the help of the Italian government for all matters that he wants with the kings of Europe.”

Menelik rejected the treaty (along with the gratuities) as he found out that he has been tricked. By confronting the Italians, Menelik angered Rome who ordered General Oreste Bartieri to take revenge. The reason for the victory of the Ethiopians was the underestimation of their forces. Bartieri could only come up with 25,000 men, while Menelik had 196,000 men of which 50% where armed with modern rifles. General Bartieri retreated to Adigrat when he realized that he was outnumbered. The following offer of negotiation from Menelik infuriated the Romans additionally. When the battle of Adwa (also written Adowa) ended 289 Italian officers, 2,918 European soldiers, and about 2,000 Eritreans have died. Britain and France reacted by creating treaties with Ethiopia because of their "New-found" Respect. Following on to the victory, in 1930 Haile Selassie I took over the power of Ethiopia (new emperor) and following to the modernization, Ethiopia joined the League of Nations (being the first Nation from Africa).

This victory of the Battle of Adwa made Ethiopia a symbol of freedom, which raised the status for this African Country, worldwide. [4] However, the raised status and power of the Ethiopian Empire made it a 'prime-target' for the Italian vision of creating a greater, stronger and bigger empire. [5] Today, Ethiopia is one of the oldest independent countries in the world, and the oldest in Africa. [6]

[1] Emperor Menelik. Imperialethiopia. Web. 1 Mar. 2014. <http://www.imperialethiopia.org/history3.htm>.
[2] "African Kingdoms." Kingdoms of East Africa. N.p., 02 Jan. 1999. Web. 2 Mar. 2014.

[3] The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Battle of Adwa (Italy-Ethiopia [1896])." Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 2 Mar. 2014.

[4] "Ethiopia Wins the Battle of Adwa." Welcome To The Black Box, Personal Narratives in High Definition. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Mar. 2014.

[5] Henze, Paule B. "Ethiopia - A Brief History." Ethioembassy. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014. <http://www.ethioembassy.org.uk/fact%20file/a-z/history.htm>.

[6] "Ethiopia Facts." Ethiopia Facts. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Mar. 2014. <http://www.compassion.com/about/where/ethiopia.htm>.

Abyssinia

Montag, 10. März 2014

The Crisis

Disarmament and Abyssinia (video)

Background

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