Download Italian foreign policy 1871

ITALIAN FOREIGN POLICY 1900 – 1914
Bismarck described Italy as an animal with a large appetite but very poor teeth.
Through the latter part of the nineteen century a policy was pursued with the following aims
1. The desire to have parity and status with Great Powers such as Britain France and Germany
2. Italia Irredenta – the desire to complete the Risorgimento by incorporating Italian speaking
areas into Italy – these areas were primarily on the north east border with Austro Hungary
3. Grandezza - by securing an Empire Italy would have access to raw materials and lucrative
markets
4. Living space – Italians would go and live in the newly acquired colonies and make them rich
and prosperous
There was some agitation but 2 was largely put on the back burner with Italy and Austro
Hungary agreeing to work out the problem in peace and friendship.
AFRICAN ADVENTURES
Italy had largely missed out on the Scramble for Africa. Britain Germany France Portugal and
Belgium had carved the area up. Little remained save parts of North Africa run by the
crumbling Ottoman Empire and the Still independent Ethiopia.
1871 Italy send and expedition to Tunisia the hope of annexing it. This was opposed by
Britain and France. In the congress of Berlin 1878 France gets Tunisia in return for
concessions to Britain over Cyprus. In the Treaty of Bardo 1881 Tunisia is confirmed as a
French protectorate. Italian protests were ignored. Italy shows its displeasure by the joining
the Triple alliance with Germany and Austro Hungary. Clearly Italy was not taken seriously
1869 – Italy established a trading base on the red sea hoping to exploit Ethiopia. Battle of
Dogali 1887 - 500 Italian troops wiped out trying to push inland
1888 – the Italians establish a protectorate over Italian Eritrea and a very loose protectorate
over the varying tribal groups making up Italian Somaliland. Neither bring in much benefit
and are expensive to run.
1889 The Italians back Menelek as claimant to the Ethiopian throne in return for the country
becoming an Italian protectorate. All seems will until Menelek refused to honour the terms
and insults Italy. An Italian expedition is wiped out in March 1896 at the battle of Adowa.
The last African general who has defeated a European army was Hannibal Barca in the
second Punic War. Utter humiliation for Italy who were forced to sign the Treaty of Addis
Ababa acknowledging Ethiopian independence and paid 10 million lira as compensation. It
brought an end to crisp career and was a major part in Italy’s fin de siècle crisis.
Italy tried again in Libya – while on the nominal rule of the inept Turks many Italian lived
there. D’Annunzio whipped up popular enthusiasm and on the face of it the conquest was a
success. There were worrying signs, the expense put strains on the economy there was
little economic benefit and there were vicious reprisal against the local Arabs who didn’t
see the Italians as liberators. The Treaty of Lausanne confirmed |Italy’s victory and there
was euphoria in certain circles at home.
ALLIANCES AND TREATIES
IN 1882 Italy joined the Dual Alliance with Germany and Austro Hungary turning it into the
Triple alliance. This was partly down to pique over Tunisia and was a protective alliance
promising German and Austro Hungarian support in the unlikely event of Italy being invaded
by France
Italy was keen to maintain relationships with Britain and France and Russia. In the
Ministerial Declaration Italy made it clear the treat was not directed against Britain
The Mediterranean Agreement – Italy Britain and Austro Hungary agree to maintain the
status quo in the Mediterranean and block any Russian expansion.
1907 King Edward VII meets Victor Emanuel II at Gaeta
Italy did try and build bridges with France despite issues over Tunisia and French support for
the papacy
1896 the Franco Italian convention. Italy recognises French protectorate over Tunisia in
return for certain commercial and political privileges
1898 The trade war between Italy and France in ended
1900 and 1902 Secret agreements with France – both sides accepted the others ambitions in
Morocco and Tripoli and Italy agrees to stay out of any war with France. This contradicted
the terms of the Triple alliance/ 1903 Victor Emmanuel ll visits Paris and in 1904 President
Loubet of France visits Rome.
1906 – the Moroccan crisis –Kaiser Wilhelm tries to muscle in on France getting protectorate
status over Morocco causing much alarm. Italy sides with Britain and France
1909 the Racconigi Agreement – Italy and Russia agree to work together to preserve the
Status quo in the Balkans. Italy also agreed to support plans Russia had to open the
Dardanelles which were then contradicted by undertakings given to Austro Hungary.
To be fair Italy did try and moderate Austro Hungary’s aggressive intentions in accelerating
the July crisis of 1914.
WHAT DO WE MAKE OF ALL THIS.
Clearly Italy was not a country to be reckoned with. It’s attempts to assert itself in Africa
were disastrous and diverted resources from pressing problems at home. On the other hand
there is a thread of a sensible foreign policy in its build up of alliances with the Great powers
even if Italy did tend to tie itself up in knots with contradicting obligations.