On 16 April 1938, at the Palazzo Chigi in Rome, Eric Drummond and Galeazzo Ciano sign the Anglo-Italian Agreements — the Easter Accords (Accordi di Pasqua).

London’s aim: draw Italy into upholding the existing order and keep it from allying with Germany. Rome, in turn, sought to keep Britain neutral if it confronted France.

The texts bind the parties to respect the Mediterranean status quo, refrain from actions against the sovereignty of Saudi Arabia and Yemen, uphold free navigation in the Suez Canal and peace between their East African possessions. Ethiopia is unnamed, but London tacitly accepts Italian control there.

Italy undertakes to withdraw its forces from Spain to ease restoration of peace there. The agreements were registered in the League of Nations Treaty Series on 15 March 1939; British ratification: 16 November 1938.

The context is appeasement after Abyssinia and the Spanish Civil War, against Italian anti-British propaganda and arms to Arab rebels in Palestine.

The result was a double failure: Italy did not split the London–Paris axis, and appeasement did not prevent the Pact of Steel of May 1939.

The Easter Accords of 16 April 1938 remain Britain’s last major attempt to keep Mussolini away from Hitler before the war.

Image: Palazzo Chigi / Rome; Wikimedia Commons. Cropped to 16:9.

Source consulted: Easter Accords. Treaty text: Anglo-Italian Agreements (LNTS vol. 195).