How far do the sources suggest consistent aims in Mussolini's foreign policy 1922-1939?

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Robert Stables, 12F2

AS History Coursework

Part A: How far do the sources suggest consistent aims in Mussolini’s foreign policy                  1922-1939?

In order to decide whether or not Mussolini’s aims for his foreign policy were consistent between 1922 and 1939, we must first establish what his aims were.

Mussolini wanted to pursue an aggressive foreign policy that would help him achieve dominance at home and overseas. He wanted to expand Italy into an empire, like it had been in the days of the Romans. This meant gaining African colonies, aswell as controlling the Mediterranean and some of the Balkan states. This would lead to his other aims; build national prestige, spread Fascism abroad, and hence gain domestic support for his regime.

Source 1 is two assessments from Sir Ronald Graham, the British ambassador to Rome, one source was written in January 1923, and the other in June of the same year. In both of these accounts he gives his opinions of Mussolini’s aims within his foreign policy. He believed that “striking success in foreign policy is of vital importance to him” and that Mussolini’s foreign policy “is pure opportunism”. Graham also hints at why this is, “he is having serious trouble with sections of his own followers”.

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In the June dispatch, Graham gives a very similar opinion. “it (Mussolini’s foreign policy) is frankly opportunistic” and that “his foreign policy will be in the sole interests of Italy”.

Although these two dispatches are written only five months apart, they are consistent in their opinions of Mussolini’s intended foreign policy.

Source 2 is a painting, painted in 1935 entitled “The Freeing of the Abyssinian Slaves”. It shows an Italian soldier opening a door to a primitive hut full of Abyssinians. The painting literally depicts the Italian as showing the Abyssinians the light, which was of course Fascism. This conforms ...

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