In December 1935, Foreign Secretary Samuel Hoare of United
Kingdom and the French Prime Minister Pierre Laval suggested
the secret Hoare-Laval Plan which would end the war but allow
Italy to control large areas of Ethiopia. Benito Mussolini
agreed to the plan, but it caused an outcry in United Kingdom
and France when the plan was leaked to the media. Samuel Hoare
and Pierre Laval were accused of betraying the Abyssinians,
and both resigned. The plan was dropped, but the perception
spread that United Kingdom and France weren't serious about
the principles of the League. Subsequently the plan was dropped,
the war carried on and Benito Mussolini turned to German dictator
Adolf
Hitler for alliance.
R20
R-boat
Launched 14 December 1935
F1
Escort
Commissioned 15 December 1935
On 17 December 1935, De Bono is replaced by Marshal Pietro
Badoglio as Commander in Chief of the entire operation and
as the commander in the north. Soon after, Haile Selassie
launches his Christmas Offensive to test the new Italian commander.
On 26 December 1935, Aviator Tito Minniti is killed. Badoglio
receives permission to use mustard gas to speed up the invasion.
This was in direct violation of the 1899 and 1907 Hague Conventions,
which outlawed the use of chemical weapons. The alleged torture
and mutilation of Minniti is claimed as justification.
Go To: January
Articles:
The Second Great War.
Edited by Sir John Hamilton
The War Illustrated.
Edited by Sir John Hamilton
2194 Days Of War.
ISBN-10: 086136614X
For a complete list of
sources
