Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-06-30
FASCISM IS THREATENED
BY ABYSSINIAN PROBLEMS
Abandonment of Italy's Drive Would
Be Severe Blow to Mussolini's Ambi-
tions-Diplomatic Situation Acute.

tier. 1hey nave Deen seeking LOT TWO
decades to get concessions for dams
and reservoirs in the Lake Tsana re-
gion. These waters, if conserved,
would furnish year-round irrigation
for the Sudan, which is the worlds
richest potential cotton field.
Thus far Adds Ababa has held the
British of. A concession was awarded
to an American frn-the ]. G. White
Engineering Corp.-some time ago,
but the British protested so strenu-
ously that the Abyssinians backed
down.
After the World War, when England
and France divided between them
Germanys African and Turkeys
Asia-Minor territories, the powers
wisely arranged the membership of
Abyssinia in the League. That move
was not made to obtain the compan-
ionship of the Abyssinians, who prac-
ticed many things which civilized
states decry-slayery for instance. 1t
was to remove Abyssinia from the
colonial picture as possible source
Of conflict. British and French in
terests did not clash, and Italy's
aspirations were ignored. Mussolini,
not yet firmly established in Rome,
was in no position to object, although
the Italians accepted AbySsinia's full
and free" membership in the League
with fingers crossed. The country of
Emperor Halle Selasie became a ward
Of the League, so to speak, with all
its members guaranteeing her politi-
cal and territorial integrity.
During the last 10 years things
have changed radically in Italy. Mus
solini, like all dictators, has had to
continually "jazz up" his population
to retain his popularity. For a while
he embarked upon works of peace.
He built the best roads in the world,
the famous auto strades; he reclaimed
at enormous cost tens of thousands
Of Swampy acres; he built super liners,
the Rex, the Cont di Savoia and
others, to carry the Italian flag to
the seven seas; he drained the Pom
tine marshes and lakes to salvage one
OF Caligula's rotting imperial house
boats. But soon the glamour of these
uneconomic and costly distractions
| died away. Only the appeal of the
Black Shirt uniform remained. and
that regalia was becoming shoddy
and shopworn. The bombast of II
Duce, the spectacular achievements of
Gen. Italo Balboa's air armada and
artiflcially induced war scares could
not Withstand the logged inroads of
the economic depression, increasing
unemployment, disappearing markets
| and hungry mouths.
Way Out Furnished.
Austria furnished a way out.
Italian army corps were modified at
the Bremen. Martial music and mill
tary maneuvers distracted the nation
from its troubles and the menace of
the Hun on the Tyrolean heights
created war psychology But Austria
was-and is-dynamlte for Mussolini.
The Marseille assassinations revealed
how delicately Europes political scales
are balanced. The YugoSlavs like the
Italians less only because they hate
| the German menace to the Petite Ell
tente more. So long as Britain, France
| and Italy stood together the situation
remained under control
But MuSsolini was not averse to
taking advantage of the political IN
certainly in Europe when the Wal Wal
incident occurred. He pushed a hard
bargain with Laval at Rome and with
Macdonald at Stresa. Where they
gave him an inch, he took a yard
Both France and England now insist
that their recognition of italian
economic interests in AbySsinia" had
no territorial or political significance.
They claim they are pledged both b.
the League covenant and treaties to
guarantee Ethiopia's independence.
Mussolini. however, has definitely
embarked upon a road on which there
is no retreat to glory" Abandon
ment of his drive toward Abyssinia
now would be severe blow to his
prestige abroad, as well as at home.
1t would mean permanent shelving of
Italy's colonial ambitions and relin-
quishment of MuSsolini's goal to make
the nation flrst-class world power.
1t can conclusively mean the oft-pre-
dicted collapse Of Fascism.
1t is very doubtful if MuSsolint
realizes the triple difficulties that lie
ahead of him-at home. in Africa and
in European diplomacy. At Geneva
his case is even worse than was
Japan's against China. In the final
analysis neither Britain nor France
will let League prestige suffer. Paris,
if possible. would Like to maintain
her newly acquired Franco-Italian
approachment, her Stresa common
front against Germany and her econ
omic interests in Abyssinia. Foreign
Minister Laval, who probably COM
mitted himself deeply at Rome, as
tutely stood aside at Geneva and al
lowed Capt. Anthony Eden, on behalf
Of Britain. pull the chestnuts from the
fire. The two statesmen put Baron
Aloisi, who in reality is Mussolini's
messenger boy, in a tough spot. Alo-
Isl begged them not to insist upon
his submitting certain proposals to II
Duce. He did not want to see Italy
leave the League-for yet a little
while. Yet Mussolini brooks no In
reference by, and accepts no advice
from, his subordinates. He gives
orders; they seek to carry them out.
1t would not be surprising to see
Baron Aloisi go the way of Dino
Grand, Gen. Balbo and others If
pressure at Geneva becomes pro-
nounced.
Great Britain's Standpoint.
Great Britain is not going to stand
idly by and see Abyssinia become an
italian colony for many reasons.
First, English people are devoted to
the League ideal and the government
is anxious to defend the covenant as
matter Of practical foreign policy.
The British admiralty is not going to
allow Musolini to have the Red Sea as
an Italian lake even though Britain
may control the Suez Canal and
Gibraltar. The potential economic in
terests of the Sudan are not going
| "a ho ienpo rdized hv alI0IuipO another