Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-06-30
BY ALBIN z. JOHNSON.

~ ENEVA.-AbysS1n1a Is likely TO
Z become a more crucial prob
7 lem for European diplomacy
~ than even Austria, Danzig
N the Balkans. The skillful shelving
If the Italo- Ethiopian controversy by
he League Council - aided and
abetted by the tropical monsoon and
italian evasiveness-has furnished a
spell during which French
and British diplomacy has been
brought into play. Italy has had
time to complete her military prepa-
and test out her internal
structure to ascertain whether 1t will
bear the strain Of grueling guerilla
war on the deserts, in the tungles
and perhaps over the high plateaus
Of Ethiopia.
That the situation which has arisen
over Mussolini's impatience to absorb
the black kingdom, thereby satisfying
Italy's century-old colonial ambition,
Is serious is undeniable.
II Duce may be satisfied with
theoretical control over the rich
African region at the moment, If the
cost of annexation or occupation Is
too great. But nothing less than
force majeure from outside or in
ternal chaos inside of Black Shirtland
will turn him from his designated
goal.
The League Council, perhaps justi-
fiably when the delicate political bal
ance in Europe Is taken into consid-
Grafton, resorted to some clever Chi
canery in dealing with Abyssinia's
appeal. For the first time in its his
tory the unusual procedure Of adopt
ing two resolutions was resorted to.
The first, which authorized Secretary
General Avenol ito keep the members
of the Council informed of the prog
ress of the arbitration proceedings"
was adopted at the request Of the
Italian representative, Baron Aloisl.
1t was given wide publicity in the
Fascist press, which commented upon
it's innocuity. The second, which
fixed time limits, first, July Is, when
Italy and Abyssinia, If unable to reach
agreement for settlement of the Wal
Wal incident should designate fifth
arbiter, and. secondly. August 25, on
which date the Council should re-
assemble if no solution had been
found, carried the real teeth. It was
scarcely mentioned in Italy and is
considered by Mussolini as non
av;s+,n+ uouovor ~ YrocerUpc the
Councils right to intervene and, for
the moment, partially protects Abys-
sinia's interests.
Understanding Doubted.
There is scant hope in European
diplomatic circles that the Italians
will come to an understanding with
Adds Ababa. The Wal Wal incident
and even the delimitation of FROM
tiers are side issues when compared
to the real question involved. The
Italians frankly stated that. Whether
or not the Wal Wal skirmish was
staged" to furnish a pretext for
Italian military action. or not, Is
immaterial. The Abyssinians say it
was; the Fascists say it wasn't. 1t is
sufficient to note that border Incl
dent which could have been settled,
fairly and honorably, dozen times
already, had Rome SO desired, is still
serving as a pretext for the mobiliza-
ton of tens of thousands Of Italian
troops in Eritrea and Italian Somali-
land.
A glance at the historical back
ground of the Italo-Ethiopian ques-
ton clarifies the picture remarkably
well, especially when studied in con-
junction with present political poll
cies in Rome. Italy, coming late into
the colonial sphere, after England
France, Germany. Belgium and Por-
tugal had pretty well divided ur
African territories among them
selves, found Abyssinia about the only
region unoccupied. As far back as
1870 the Italians sought to penetrate
the hinterland of Eritrea and Soma
liland. Other powers. busy with the
regions under their control, had found
the Abyssinians tough nut to crack
and had left them more or less alone
But since it was the only un-opted
region left Italian eyes became fixed
upon it. They have been fixed there
ever since. Abyssinia, for Italy, Is q
national mirage.
To say that the desire to have
Abyssinia is a national delusion with
Italy is perhaps unfair; it is a ma
tional economic necessity. Italy with
a population growing at the rate Of
1000, 900 yearly needs an outlet. With.
out raw materials she needs colonies
which will produce them unless she
is to remain dependent upon Other
states. Blocked in all other directions
Africa offers her only opportunity
and unless she wishes to go to wal
with her European neighbors there i.
no land for her to annex excep
Ethiopia.
The first serious military attempt
to penetrate into Abyssinia came If
1872 1t did not accomplish much
Then in 1887 the Abyssinians gained
the upper hand at Dogali, where they
slaughtered 400 Italian soldiers
Strained relations followed, which
ended in treaty which the Abyssin.
ian Emperor Menelik denounced II
1893 because he found the Amharit
(Abyssinian) and Italian texts diff.
ferent. He charged that he had beer
deceived. Hostilities again broke out
which terminated in the so-callet
Adowa massacre in March, 1896, wher
Ethiopian tribesmen, numbering co..
600 strong, cut to pieces an Italian
Army of $4,000 men, killing or cap
turing most Of them and subjectins
wounded to horrible atrocities. The
Italian punitive expedition under Gen
Baldassara came to nought when the
Italian people, fed up on war, over
threw the government. A peace treaty
followed in which Rome recognized
the absolute independence" of Eth
iopia.
Since Adowa Defeat.
Since the Adowa defeat, which
MusSolini now says was a nationa
sacrifice, which must be redeemed
Rome played little part In Africa
until recently. Through bartering the
FascistS obtained a few hundred