Evening star., 1935-10-07
SELASS|EPR0TESTS
SLAy|NG0F WOMEN
Doubts if italian People
Support Campaign
Against DefenseIess.

tcopyright 1898; by the Associated Press s;, ,
peror Halle Selassie yesterday de-
livered an outspoken indictment OF
the war methods of Mussolini and Bit
terly assailed them for wha, he called
their measures for "civilizing" the
African empire.
"Mr. Mussolini," said the sad-eyed
King Of Kings, charges us with being
barbarians and says he wishes to
civilize us. Is the wanton slaughter
of women and children by air bombs
and machine guns the kind OF civili-
cation he wishes to give us?
1T cannot think the great Italian
people. celebrated through the CEN
turies for their arts, humanities, let
ters and culture, have so little chiv-
airy left toward womankind. I can
not believe that al of MuSsolini's peo-
pie support him il. such a campaign.
I'VE expected that when the Ital-
fans began their campaign they would
confine their operations to our SOL
diers. What does the world think of
iators who when they see helpless
women and children fleeing for their
lives and the horror of air bombs, de-
liberately shower them with machine
gun bullets from the air? Have gal
lantry and manliness fed from the
world?
Invasion Unjustified.
"Besides, what have we done to
provoke these cruel attacks on land
and in the air? The Italians say we
maSsacred innocent shepherds. 1t is
untrue. The blood is on their hands,
not ours. Our conscience is clear.
The position of Ethiopia is clear and
We have committed no act to justify
this invasion"
The sovereign said he was especially
amazed that MuSsolini should order
the air bombing of Aduwa, which, he
said. was completely unfortified and
inhabited only by women, children,
decrepit and sick, since the procla-
nation for general mobilization called
all able-bodied men to the front.
mo question has ever arisen be-
tween Italy and Ethiopia which is in
capable of speedy and satisfactory
solution if there is sincere desire for
peace on both Sides" maintained the
Emperor. 1T isn't yet too late for
Mussolini to discuss peace either
directly with Ethiopia or through the
League of Nations.
Despite the fact that our empire
Is faced with the gravest crisis of
its long and glorious history-a crisis
provoked by nation with which we
have always striven to live in peace
and amity-we still place all our
faith in the League of Nations, which
Is pledged to defend its members,
the small as well as the great, from
unjustifiable aggression.
I'VE still repose confidence in the
conscience and heart of mankind to
save struggling and innocent people
from mighty aggressor"
Pleased With Troops.
Halle SelaSsie said he was highly
gratif1ed by the conduct of his troops
against the Italian forces. The enemy,
he said, has so far only skirted the
outermoSt rim of the Ethiopian danger
zone and occupied only a few in
significant villages and towns, but
would meet a far more determined
resistance when it advances farther.
Turning to the thousands of mes
sages Of encouragement he has re-
ceived, the Emperor said:
II can never forget the repeated
expressions of friendship. sympathy
and good will from the great nations
of North and South America, which,
like ourselves, suffered and sacrificed
for the sacred cause of independence
I'VE hope this message of gratitude
will reach every heart overseas that
has sympathized with our cause and
beaten with our hearts in our struggle
to keep our homes, our lives and our
liberties against state whose attack
on us constitutes the greatest act
of international immortality of modern
times.
Handicapped as we are by lack
Of arms and with a mighty military
machine already on our soil threaten
ing to annihilate us, we, neverthe-
less, face the future with courage.
IF, unhappily, Italy refuses to listen
to the voice of the world crying out
for peace and justice and f1outs the
League Assembly Wednesday, we are
prepared to make the supreme sacrifice
to retain our liberty, which is precious
beyond price,
I'VE are confident of the justice of
our cause. We have unshaken faith
in the proven valor of our armies and
our people We have undiminished
hope in Almighty God"