The Omaha guide., 1935-08-03
THE DEFENSE OF ETHIOPIA AT HOME AND
ABROAD
Concrete Plan for Assistance
By John Brock, Associate Editor,

Crusader News Agency
NEW YORK-CNA-The drama of war, now be-
ing enacted on the Ethiopian border, and affecting
the capitals Of the big powers, rushed to a climax
last week.
Mussolini made it clear that nothing save the
complete bmissio Of the Ethiopian people wuold
satisfy Italian fascism. From the accusers of ETH
opian aggression" to defenders of Ethiopian slaves"
and "civilizers Of fuedal Ethiopia, Italian fascism
seeks to build a moral case for It's war Of conquest
Barborous Rule of Fascism
But uncensored, behind-theline stories paint a
different picture. These stories reveal:
/. Each day at least 40 Italian soldiers are becom-
ing invaIids in North Africna camps
.. Wholesale migrations Of Italians are taking
place across the borders Of Austria to escape mill
tary service
8 Mass unrest Of Italian peasants and workers
due to increased taxes for war.
4. The iminent danger of the collapse Of the fas-
cist dictatorship due to internal disorders.
1t is this state of Affairs which makes Musolini
below and rattle the sword all the louder in order
to bolster the morale and drown the chorus of in
ternal dissention. &
Thus, the world views the strange sight of one Of
the arch-barbarians Of history donning the cloak of
civilization and culture for the purpose of per-
petuating and. extending a regime kept in power
b yfined prisons, quart doses Of castor oil and firing
squads.
Vaccinations of Big Powers
France and England, fearful of anti-imperialist
feeling among their colonials, have hypOcritically
talked Of 'curbing'' Italy. But their plans for
@+curbing'', so far revealed means the peaceful sub
mission Of the Ethiopian nation 70 an Italian pro
tectorate'
The hypocrisy of these powers was exposed when
a treaty signed in 1891 by France, England and tia
Iy, granting eastern Ethiopia as an Italian sphere Of
influence, was made public.
With the big powers backing Italy and the control
of the League of Nations established, Halle Selassie
has appealed to wrold public opinion He has stress
ed the desire for peace and a determination to fight
Ethiopia as a Civilizer
BY his straightforward statements, the Emperor
has won TO the side of the Ethiopian people the pro-
gressive forces of all nations, including Italy. From
the four corners of the earth, from Negro people and
anti-fascist elements. from christian mad jews, have
come pledges Of support.
So that, while Mussolini claims the t tile of
's'civilizer'', those forces sincerely wishing to pre-
serve civilization from fascist barbarism, select
Ethiopia as a natural ally.
Aid Etheiopia
Documentary proof Of Ethiopia's acceptance
of these allies Is the cablegram IN answer to a
message from the Provisional Committee for the
Defense of Ethiopia and the American League
against War and Fascism-
Message to Emperor Halle e-' Three
hundred thousand black and white New York
members oppose invasion of Ethiopia. Protest plan
ned
Answer of Ethiopia'E Minister of Foreign
League. Ethiopia viii continue to seek a peace
ful solution but viii defend herself against an
attempt at predatory conquest"
The question Of concrete aid in defense Of
Ethiopia IS now of immediate and pressing i'm
poztance. First, must come pressure on various
governments to withdraw aid or assistance to
Mussoiini; second, to insure an effective. defense
through gifts Of munitions and other materials
and human technical aid; third, support of anti
Mussolini forces within Italy itself.
But it should be born in mind that the m lain
aid to his downf. Il is a strong, well organized
Ethiopian military defense