What did the Hoare-Laval Pact propose?

The Hoare-Laval Pact proposed that Mussolini would receive two-thirds of Abyssinia (Ethiopia) in an attempt to appease Italian ambitions and bring an end to the ongoing conflict between Italy and Abyssinia. This proposal was made in December 1935 by British Foreign Secretary Samuel Hoare and French Foreign Minister Pierre Laval as a means to resolve the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. The plan sought to placate Mussolini by allowing him to expand Italian territory in Africa while attempting to maintain the League of Nations' credibility.

The reasoning behind this proposal stemmed from a desire among European powers to prevent further escalation of conflict and maintain stability in Europe, despite the moral implications of giving in to aggression. The League of Nations had been established to promote peace and cooperation among countries; however, the pact was highly controversial and ultimately rejected by both public opinion and the Ethiopian government, leading to the collapse of the League's credibility.