The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-28

ent warning IS his reply TO tn
other war preparedness moves
by Great Britain in the last
70 hours.
It can mean only one Of two
things: Either italy or Britain or
both are blufhng. or the danger Of a
major war between these two re-
cent allies is uncomfortablv close. In
the Judgment Of most diplomats
here neither Italy nor Britain is
blufing.
More Madness than Reason
London. II is said. Is not alarmed
by what Mussolini NAV do 10
Ethiopia or the League Of Nations
but fears for the safety of the Brit
ish Empire itself. Italian conquest
in East Africa would jeOpardize and
perhaps destroy the Mediterranean
Suez lifeline Of the British colonies
in Africa, the Near East, and Far
East
Why is MusSOlini willing to risk
a fight with the mighty mistress OF
the seas2 This is the question diplO-
mats are asking each other. There
are plenty OF answers. but none Of
them seems altogether convincing.
After all Of the plausible and not
So-plauSible excuses for MuSSOllnl
are recited. the experts still have
the suspicion that there is more
madness than reason in his grew
some gamble This is true even if
he comes to last-minute terms with
the British. under which they will
look the other way while he grabs
half loaf in Ethiopia.
Here Are the Reasons
Here are the reasons" given for
Mussolinis willingness to start an
East African war. at the risk Of
finding Britain and possibly other
League of Nations members arrayed
\ against him:
Italian population pressure and
the need for colonial outlets.
2-Ethiopia's unmeasured mineral
riches. which would give Italy ma
terials she now lacks for industrial
ization and military power.
3-Italian victory would save
Mussolinis skin at home-the an
cient ruse OF slipping dictatorS to
make the disconnected people forget
their troubles in an orgy of i'm
perialiStic patriotism.
Victory would raise Italy from
a second to a first class naval mill
tary power. and thus increase Mus
solini's strength in the European
and world balance of power.
Not Worth the Gamble
At first glance these stakes may
appear worth the gamble to those
who-like the Italian dictator-have
no scrupleS against war but rather
glorify it. The international ex-
perts. however. doubt that it is a
good gamble, even for a confirmed
militariSt.
They point out:
Ethiopia is not suitable for
large scale white colonization. Mus
solini can relieve more Italian pcpu-
lation pressure by ceasing his
more babies" campaign than by I'M
suitable African emigration projects.
A deal with France or Britain for
some OF their unsettled Near East
ern territory would be less costly
than an Ethiopian war and much
more effective as a population
measure.
2-ASSuming that Ethiopia is as
rich in minerals as reported but not
proved. Italy has neither the large
capital fund nor technical organiza-
ton To exploit those riches without
foreign aid. which would prevent
the desired MuSSolini monopoly.
Italy in Weak Condition
3-While 1t is admitted that Mus
Solini'S war preparations already
have given Italy a shot in the arm
Jobs for the unemployed. orders
for the prOfiteerS, and patriotism in
place of incipient revolt-thiS infla-
tion dope soon wears of and leaves
the victim a worse wreck Italy is
poor financially and weak induStri-
ally She is less able than any other
large European country TO with
stand the collapse which cuStomarily
follows war.
Am Italian victory. far from in
creaSing her European and world
power. would more likely weaken her
10 the point where she could no
longer hold off Hitler penetration OF
Austria or even stop invading leu
tonic Nazis at the Bremen Pass. An
Italian victory in any event would
destroy even the present partial
European nifty and thus increase
Hitler'S power at the expense of all
others. including MuSsolini
All Of these Nightmares. which
should be disturbing II Duce'S
dreams of himself as another
Caesar. give him the benefit of two
very big doubts. They assume he
, can lick Ethiopia; and they assume
~ . "A a a a N ~