Key events in Italy’s Foreign Policy (Summary)

21st August 1923 – 4 Italians assassinated when marking border between Greece + Albania
M. seized the opportunity to intimidate Greece – demanded 50m lire + official apology, Greece refused, Mussolini invades Corfu
Greece appeals to LON – British pressure, 27 Sept = Greece paid compensation Britain + France relation damaged

Italian majority, given to Yugoslavia in WW1 – hated by nationalists
After Corfu – Mussolini invaded, got Yugoslavia to sign Treaty of Rome in January 1924
Italy annexed Fiume – Both countries promised neutrality if attacked by third party
Victory for M. Domestic – citizens happy. France – unhappy, had an alliance with Yugoslavia
France wanted those Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and Romania to defend WW1 agreement (3 were the “Little Entente”)

Originally, Mussolini had poor relations with UK + France over Corfu + Fiume, but wanted to initiate more conciliatory relations
7 agreements in October 1925 = Italy agreed to guarantee German borders, aid Belgium/GM/France/UK in case of attack
Improvement of relations in Europe; “Spirit of Locarno” = Germany joined LON in 1926. Mussolini would sign Kellog Briand pact (banning war)
But Italy still had concerns about Germany going into Austria (South Tyrol)

Increasing influence in Albania
Plotted to expand influence in Balkans (expense of French)
Secretly supported separatist forces in Yugoslavia and signed $ agreements in Czechoslovakia (wanted “entente powers” to move towards Italy)
Intervening in Albanian civil war – he had to protect + support Albania (monopolised Albanian shipping/trade/army)
Made Little Entente powers closer together in fear of Italy

Agreed not to use war to resolve conflict/dispute
But he secretly supported separatist forces in Balkans, which offset France’s influence
“International man of peace” – diplomatic credentials

Nations struggling to deal with fallout – wanted unilateral action/bilateral agreements over multilateral cooperation
Italy hit hard – trade fell/no access to foreign loans from the US Unemployment ^ to 1m
More aggressive FP + autarky + capturing overseas markets
Production falls 32% in 3 years, Mussolini limits unemployment by expanding public works + rearmament
Rise to power of Hitler Italy was threatened by Hitler So Mussolini wanted to mediate between France/GB/Germany

Treaty in June 1933 Between Italy, Germany, France, Britain
Better way to ensure international security (Mussolini actually just wanted to isolate Germany, bc Hitler was appointed as Chancellor)
Undermined LON Germany withdraws from LON in Oct 1933
Difficult to sustain pact made war more likely

Austria’s chancellor (Engelbert Dollfuss) murdered by Nazis (who wanted to annex Austria)
Italy was concerned that South Tyrol/Mussolini control was under threat
Mussolini mobilised troops along Austrian border (Brenner Pass)
Germany forced to back down + stop interfering in Austria (believed it was part of the Italian sphere of influence)
Major success for Mussolini – but weakness of Austria

Hitler announced conscription + rearmament in March 1925
Mussolini wanted to isolate GM again
April – France, British + Muss meet in Northern Italy to discuss abt Hitler
Reaffirmed Locarno pact = decided to form a “Stresa front” to contain GM
However, all 3 had diverging aims Britain didn’t want war/to antagonise GM
France didn’t consider war/did want to contain GM
Mussolini wanted to contain GM and also invaded Abyssinia
Breaks down in June 1935, Britain signed Anglo-German agreement which allowed GM to rebuild navy IT + FN = betrayal (no chance to stop Hitler)
Mussolini invaded Abyssinia in Oct 1935 + end of Front + Mussolini allows Hitler to take Austria

IB Wisdom