Italy’s ambiguous Ucciali treaty armed Menelik to destroy Italian ambitions

Evidence

The Italian version of this treaty was interpreted as making Abyssinia an Italian protectorate, but Menelik claimed that the Amharic version did not oblige him to conduct all his external relations through Italy. This inconsistency, however, was not to come to light until later. For the moment, the Italians, who had gained formal recognition of their sovereignty over Eritrea, felt confident of their position and made arms and ammunition freely available to Menelik: loan capital was also granted, and in 1890 Italy sponsored Abyssinian membership of the Brussels General Act which empowered her as a Christian state to import munitions legally. … This influx of war material which on the Italian reading of the Ucciali treaty accorded with Italian interests, was in succeeding years to be applied to the consolidation of Menelik’s realm, and finally enabled the Emperor to assert his country’s independence. In the process, Somali clans which hitherto had lain outside the ancient Abyssinian hegemony were incorporated in the new Ethiopian empire. — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 165 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

In any event, the explanation given at the time to the Italian parliament by Tommaso Tittoni, the Minister responsible, was that the Illig agreement establishing peaceful relations between Italy and Sayyid Muhammad would greatly facilitate the extension of Italian authority in the Benadir. Events were soon to show how thoroughly mistaken this appreciation of the situation was. — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 222 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Italy armed its own future adversary through the Ucciali treaty. — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 165; Italy’s Illig treaty expectations proved thoroughly mistaken — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 222

Related

• Italy armed its own future adversary through the Ucciali treaty. (similarity 0.93)
• Italy’s Illig treaty expectations proved thoroughly mistaken (similarity 0.87)
• British treaty default indirectly strengthened Abyssinia and Italy (similarity 0.86)
• External pressure from European powers and Mahdists drove Abyssinian unification. (similarity 0.78)

Broader Connections

• Italy armed its own future adversary through the Ucciali treaty. #corroborates (0.90) — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 165
• Italy’s Illig treaty expectations proved thoroughly mistaken #expands (0.50) — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 222