The timing favoured the Italians. The fear of Nazi Germany created an environment in which Mussolini could offer a military alliance in case Hitler would invade Austria. Paris signaled its willingness to negotiate about Abyssinia because it had only minor interests in this area. On January 7th 1935 a formal pact was signed

between France and Italy that conceded France disinterest in this sphere. At that time no other European power was in the position to stop Italy from invading Abyssinia.