The 1915 Treaty of London : prelude to fascism

Abstract

This thesis examines how the war aims to Italy developed during the First World War as formulated within the Treaty of London, which helped give political birth to Fascism. Emphasis is put on the Treaty itself and the months of negotiations between Italy, France, Russia and Britain that allotted Italy various territorial spoils along the Eastern Adriatic Sea where thousands of Italians lived, giving rise to irredentist claims. The eventual refusal of the inter-Allied delegates to honor the Treaty at the Paris Peace Conference of 1919 resulted in social discontent and a feeling of betrayal among numerous Italians. The thesis also examines the political transformation of Benito Mussolini from his Socialist origins to being the fascist Premier of Italy. Particular emphasis is placed on how Mussolini used the Treaty of London as a propaganda tool to obtain political power. Fascist foreign policy regarding the unfulfilled articles of the treaty is shown as a prime motivating tenet to rationalize Italian expansion. Lastly, the formation of the Axis and Italy's entrance into the Second World War illustrate how Italy was last acquired territorial spoils promised in the London Treaty. The work concludes with the repercussions when Italy lost the war and the territories that were gained during the years of Fascism. The Italian defeat and its lasting psychological influence on today's generation of Italians is reflected in the closing thoughts of the work.