The Washington times., 1935-10-08
NOW
Geneva LaHdS
Our Neutrality
WAR COMMENT
BY HELEN ESSARY
GENEVA.

NSANA
"When President Roosevelt
made his proclamation Of neu-
trality and declared that the
United States would not be
drawn into anybOdy's war under
any circumstances, he said
what no country in Europe,
Asia, Africa and South America
has h ID the nerve to say.
"He said simply and firmly:
we won't fight! 1t was mag
nificent statement"
Unofficial Geneva is paying
this tribute today to the courage
and wisdom of the head of the
American Government.
Being near the Ethiopian
delegation to the League of Ma
tionS is like travelling with a
corpse on it's way to the burial
ground. Or watching a con.
demned man in a death cell.
I rode down in the hotel lift
today with poor Tecle-Hawari-
ate. The tragic little gentle
man from Ethiopia was dressed
in a black suit and black tie.
The points of his small Van
Dyke beard were smoothed into
an apologetic droop. He had
the eyes of beaten dog.
A stomachy German and a
suave italian journalist also
were in the lift. None of us
looked at each other-openly.
I wanted to say something
sympathetic to the Ethiopian,
but there was nothing I could
say. Except, perhaps:
"PleaSe, Mr.. ecle-Hawariate,
try to forgive the greedy, lying
numbering white race"
But, of course, I said moth
ing. I just studied the poor
little mans misery. And
thought how he looked like a
small, helpless black sheep
being led to Slaughter-to make
. Roman holiday.
And thought how the rest of
the civilized world, holding the
ringside seats in the arena, was
reveling in a sort Of ecstatic
horror. .....
do yOu think anything could
have been done to prevent this
fearful mess?"
So asked an English diplo-
mat this Afternoon. He an
swered:
"The United States could
have saved the situation. If
you had gone into the League
of Nations and united your
strength with that of Great
Britain, Italy would have never
dared to run amuck."
Later repeated this CONVEX
Sation to Henry W. Nevinson,
the English writer and cham
pion of lost causes who has
seen so many wars. He said:
'Neither the United States
nor England could have stopped
this war. MuSSOlini is out for
blood. He's got to have his fill
Of it,"
England's attitude in this
crisis is not approved by all her
subjects. An English journalist
has just been telling me:
"Of course, 1 admire Eng
land. Who doesn't? But she's
an awful hypOcrite.
did you ever notice her tai
ent for making her interna-
tional efforts seem noble and
unselfish? If she springs into
this war it will appear that she
is doing it to save the world.
AS q matter Of fact, she'll be
fighting to save her own skin.
her colonial possessions in
Africa anu her world prestige"
I persisted:
"What 1 can't understand is
why, because Italy is defying
the League, Great Britain and
other countries feel called on to
fight Italy. To kill few hun
dred thousand more people. To
risk involving the whole world
in war. Just to vindicate the
honor of the League, which
was formed to prevent war.
It's all too stupid. None Of 1t
makes sense"
Said the Englishman:
"DOn't ask questions. Who
ever said anything made
sense?"
While the League is dying a.
q force for peace, new home TO
its tangible body is being erected
farther out of Geneva.
A most beautiful, serene new
home. AS big as railway
station. Waiting for the con-
tentious world to rush through.
And go back home and fight
as it pleaseS.