ABSTRACT
Abyssinia launched a counter-offensive in December 1935 which momentarily fostered British hopes that Italy was at an impasse. The League of Nations Union, the British press and foreign powers were mystified over why the Baldwin government failed to champion coercive measures at Geneva which it was in an ideal position to enforce. This chapter considers the reasons why a largely passive stance was adopted by the British government, despite committing considerable reinforcements to the Eastern Mediterranean, including poor intelligence on Italian intentions and military capabilities which reinforced the disinclination to back an oil sanction. It reviews what the alternative approach was, its likelihood of success and the probable cost; finally, the consequences of the failure to save Abyssinia. Indeed, service irritation with the Abyssinian affair was epitomized by a Royal Air Force (RAF) officer's sarcastic reference to 'this silly African business'.
