The Washington times., 1935-08-28
PEACE TACTICS
CONCERN OF
DIPLOMATS
Worry Centers on Fate
OF Own Countries,
Not Ethiopia

CONTINUED from Page ~
meet in conference in last des-
perate conferences before the
League of Nations meeting which
1t is now admitted, can only put
a period to talk Of peace, but
cannot conceivably check Musso-
lini.
All Roads to Disaster
What worries all Europe'S
statesmen most is the fact that
literally every discernible avenue
in the immediate future seems to
lead to disaster.
Studying maps Of the future,
these statesmen see one cardinal
point Of departure: Namely, that
Mussolini is stalking all on Eth
opia, and his will to war is irrev-
ocable. 49,.
They see several alternatives
for European action, but first
If the league votes sanctions
against Italy, meaning q blockade
of Italy and closure Of the Suez
Canal, this means war;" MuSso-
lini has said so.
He already has a quarter OF a
million Italian soldiers below
Suez, and closure of the canal
would mean that they would
starve II Mussolini could not keep
the canal open. Also. If he capitu-
lated, it would mean the end OF
the Fascist regime.
Therefore, since it Is a matter
of life and death for FaciSm,
italy would be compelled to fight
even England.
Oil Need Faces Italy
But Italy cannot fight without
oil and coal, Of which she has
none of her own. The League
blockade would leave only three
theoretical sources Of supply. The
United States, Japan and Ger
many. Leaving aside Americas
attitude, Japan, nortoriously
anti-Italian, is excluded as a
source.
This leaves Germany. But
Germany could reach Italy only
through Austria. Italy has been
the sole hindrance to German
conquest of Austria. But Italy,
choked by a blockade, would be
forced to make a deal with Ger
many and give her Austria in
return for those supplies without
which Italy must collapse.
So, despite the present northern
maneuvers of the Italian army,
allegedly designed to brighten
Germany away from Austria, the
fact is that the first consequence
of League blockade would be to
throw Italy and Germany together
in a front which would begin by
being economic, but which might
end with common military action
on the part of two powers which
haven't got all they want against
all other powers which have got
all they want.
Another Alternative
Statesmen turn from this dark
prospect to look down a second
avenue: The League refuses to
vote sanctions, but agrees to lift
the embargo on shipmen rms
to Ethiopia.
Italy goes ahead, but me-
ficulties in the African Alps ana
after a series o. setbacks, the Fas-
ciSt regime crumbles, Italy drops
out of the European front. Ger
many is left to do as she pleases,
and native tribes throughout. the
black continent rise againSttllrir
white masters. |
Worried statesmen peer '>wn
the third avenue. The L. &C.
cepts Italy's indictment y, z hi
opia. Italy drives forWfi. arr
triumphantly annexes =, ,pla' +
in the African sun. ~ T2 !
But what, then, 49,. I,- be the
limit to Fascist an 9n? Ask
British statesmen. nj n IT will be-
come of British T. SSery in the
Mediterranean? And what moral
right would the League have to
try and check Germany should |
she decide, like italy, that ex-
pansion, if necessary by force, is
the right Of any over-populated
nation?
Out Of these alternatives,
statesmen find sanctions the
most dangerous.
Yet, for the sake Of the British
electorate, the British govern
ment must continue its threat
of sanctions and Europe sweats
as British warships move into
the Mediterranean and ETH.
opians whet their spears and
MuSsoliri whips his army into
frenzied cheers for war.