The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1935-12-27
RAPED" ETHIOPIA,
'DOUBLE.CROSSED"

"The British ruling class Is, first and
last. looking out for the interests of the
British ruling class. Poor Belgium in
1914 and Outraged Ethiopia in 1885 are
convenient political slogans that are made
to serve the needs Of the ruling class OBJ
iectives," says Professor Scott Nearing in
. clear and enlightening editorial article
sent out by the Federated Press.
Consider the Outraged Ethiopia slO-
ian in the light of recent events.
During the first 60 days of the italian
invasion of Ethiopia, British ruling class
spokesman were all steamed up over the
violation of international agreements,
the flouting of the League Covenant, and
the resort to war against fellow league
member One hundred fifty fighting ships
were concentrated in the Mediterranean;
the French government was given virtual
ultimatum with or against US and the lea
que, league authority was speedily invok-
Cd and sanctions were voted and enforced.
At all costs the sanctity of treaties was to
be preserved, and the rights of small ma
tons protected.
Early in December, there was a right
abOut-face. British and French spokes-
men were looking for formula that would
save face for Mussolini and satisfy Italian
ambitions. Oil sanctions were postponed.
The talk Of further coercive measures
against Italy was dropped. In place of the
eastern Mediterranean concentration OF
British naval and military forces that had
characterized the October-November phase
of British policy, the Baldwin ministry,
swept into office on the Outraged Ethio-
pia'. was cooperating IN Laval to offer
Italy half of Ethiopia if they would call
off the war.
This kaleidoscope change in British
policy is no accident. The ministry is in
office, speaking for the same ruling class.
But there has been a vast change in the
objective situation.
''In October and November the press was
filled with stories of Italian advances and
Italian victories that promised a speedy
fulfillment of MusSolinis dream Of an Ital
ian empire in east Africa, with Ethiopia
Egypt, the Sudan and Kenya under the
Italian flag, and aSuez and the Red Sea ii
Italian hands. This was the Poor Outrag
ed Ethiopia period of Brithish diplomacy
with warships and troop movements de
signed to thwart Italian ambitions in thu
direction of the lifeline of the British En-
pire through SueZ to India, and the chair
of British communications from Carlo t.
the Cape of Good Hope.
"In December the press was filled will
stories of Italian retreats, losses and de
feats. The dream of an Italian-Africal
empire was giving way before the night
mare of all European imperialiStS: VIC
torious Ethiopia leading an aroused Afri
can population in a crusade against tn
European colonizers that might easily ev
entuate in an All-African Soviet govern
ment General Jan SHUTS has warned tn
world again and again of this possibility
British and French statesmen are alik
awake to its dangers.
This was the get together with Ital!
period of British diplomacy when every el
fort was being made by the British an
nch to prevent Ethiopia from winnin
ictory that might set all native AfriC
NE with revolt against domination
the European empires.
THE British ruling class, like it's fe
lows in other parts of the world, is fir
and last for the British ruling class. Vine
italian victory threatened the British er
pire in Africa, British spokesman denoU
ced Italian aggression. When Ethiopia vi
tory raised the specter of colonial revc
and threatened the British empire in
RIGA from another direction, Briti
spokesman were offering to help the 1t;
ian ruling class dismember Ethiopia.
Peace, Justice, 'fair-dealing' I'll
right of small nations are political slogal
uttered to hide this political reality: Il
British ruling class, like every other rulil
class, is busy getting wealth and keepi
it; getting power and keeping it. Tn
formula, and that formula alone, offers
-~lanati07 IF the political shifts and dc
that a.. . involved in looking out
anheF eE9a"