Evening star., 1935-02-17
ITALIAN AIMS In AFRICA
QUESTION FACING EUROPE
Suspicion Exists That Duce Plans to
Crab Sole Remaining Portion Not
Under White Domination.

finally on January 20 a new clash
between the Italians and the black
tribesmen at Afdub.
Thereupon Mussolini modified
while Gen. Emilio de Bono, one Of
the original Fascists, had already
been appointed to rule the combined
colonies of Eritrea and Somaliland,
both on the Ethiopian borders.
Negotiations are apparently pro-
ceeding both at Adds Ababa and at
Rome, but nothing has been reached
as yet The question is therefore
open: What is Italy going to do?
If it sends a large body Of troops
to the frontier, troubles seem almost
certain, although the Italians declare
they are merely protecting the borders
Of their colony.
Land Grab Opposed.
Europe suspects the Italians may
be trying to grab the last available
region in Africa. Certain Italians,
general Of Libya, and Gen. GRAHAM,
are said to oppose any such scheme
as dangerous in view Of the German
threat TO AuSLTld.
this view The British are enigmatic.
The French are specialists in
African conquests, and consider the
conquest of Abyssinia a major task.
These blacks are tough. They thrive
on war. Their 100000 population
claims to be able to put 100000
warriors in the field. Recently their
equipment was modernized under
Belgian instructors. Some 100000 to
600 900 men now possess modern rifles
and the King of Kings" disposes of
several tanks, $50 machine guns and
l80 cannon.
The French note that to conquer
the much smaller Riff population
without such equipment in Morocco,
soldier like Marshal Henri Petain
needed 10000 men and huge stores Of
material. 1t might take 100000 or
more Italians to overcome the war
like and feudally organized Ethi-
opians And once Italy had sent 200,-
900 Of Its best soldiers to the Ethiopian
plateau what would prevent the Ger
mans from swallowing Austria and
flowing down into Italy itself over
the Brenner Pass?
Duce's Aim Question.
The immediate question is there
fore Mussolini's real aims 1t pro-
lection, punishment or conquest?
Protection he can have easily, with
out trouble-but it must be decided
whether the famous wells are Italian
or native. Punishment, except for
ie a1y
out conquest. So much for the mill
tary side.
The legal aspect Is almost more
important. 1t cannot be said that the
conquest of Abyssinia is neither bet
ter nor worse than the conquest Of
America by our ancestors, Of Britain
by the Normans or of North America
by the French and British.
The Abyssinians have lower civili-
zation, are still half barbarouS and
not entirely orderly. But the stu
alton has changed since the World
| War-at least the people have tried
| to change it. The League Of Nations
! is a scheme to eliminate all violence,
particularly violent conquests, from
/ international relations. Therefore all
| nations dreaming Of conquest dislike
| the League.
The japanese withdrew and took
Manchuria. The Germans withdrew
and are arming for any possibility.
The Poles have remained. but are
dangerously restless. The Italians
apparently threaten to go if the Abys-
sinians try to drag them before the
Council Of the League.
Yet Abyssinia is a member state
and has a definite right to do this If
it so desires.
/ Ably assisted by French. Greek and
American juristS. as they are, the
! Ethiopians can probably force the
unwilling League to take necessary
action. If the League refuses, it
stands revealed as q cowardly body
unmindful of its own status and en-
gagged in neglecting the weak and
| kowtowing to the strong.
If the League accepts, the Italians
may withdraw. What will be left Of
the international body when the
United States, Japan, Germany and
Italy are all absent?
French Are Nervous.
Therefore the present trouble con-
tains the seeds of a situation that
might burst the League. The French,
realizing this, are frankly nervous.
The Germans, with equal acumen,
are hopefully expectant. The future
is cloudy.
Emerging from this situation, as
from nearly every mess in the modern
world. are two increasingly incon-
trovertible facts:
First, that nothing but collective
responsibilities, universally accepted
and fulfilled. can guarantee world
peace.
Second. that those nations which
are seeking war. applauding violence
and refusing an ordered world, hap
pen for Some reason to be ruled by
small cliques in the name of despotic
system calling itself Fascism. (For
Japan is to all intents and purposes
Fascistic).
l tCopyright 1881