The Day the League Backed Down

It is August 1923. Five Italian officials have been killed on the Greek-Albanian border — probably by bandits, possibly by Greek soldiers. Mussolini, Italy's new fascist leader, sees an opportunity. He issues impossible demands to Greece. When Greece hesitates, he bombards the island of Corfu, killing 15 civilians. He then occupies the island. Greece appeals to the League of Nations. The League condemns Italy. Britain and France are permanent Council members and could enforce the ruling. What do they do? They back down. The Conference of Ambassadors — a group of major powers outside the League — overrules the decision. Greece is forced to apologise and pay Italy 50 million lire. Mussolini gets away with it completely. The message to every dictator watching: the League is a paper tiger. Its words mean nothing if you are powerful enough to ignore them.