Hoare and Laval

Whilst the League was debating sanctions, the British (Hoare) and French (Laval) foreign ministers were scheming to end the Abyssinian crisis. The plan was to give Mussolini two thirds of Abyssinia and he would stop the Italian invasion. Laval proposed that the plan should be agreed in secret between Britain, France, and Italy before telling the League. France threatened Britain that France would not support sanctions in the League of Nations against Italy.

The plan became known to the League of Nations through a leak in the French Press. The result was an outcry of public opposition to the deal. The public in the United States were also outraged that Britain and France were attempting to involve themselves in the crisis. This then stepped up their oil exports to the Italians. Both Hoare and Laval were sacked from their positions as foreign ministers.