Imperial Valley press., 1935-12-11
ETHIOPIA THE GOAT
IN PEACE NEGOTIATIONS

1t was not an unexpected thing when
negotiations between Italy on the one
hand and France and Great Britain on
the other swung toward an old-fashion-
ed deal whereby Italy, or Mussolini. will
be given about three-fourthS of Ethiopia
If he calls off his war dogs. All the
pickering, bluffing and speech making
OF the past few weeks have turned that
way. Ethiopia, in spite of the League of
Nations, is nothing but pawn in an in
ternational battle of diplomats. The
Ethiopians will not be asked for their
opinion if the proposal becomes fact
They will have no choice.
Since MuSsolini first gave indication
that he might send troops into Ethiopia.
there has been no real question of the
human or racial rights of the East Afri-
cans. The question has been one of ter
ritorial power between the major ma
tions. England saw Italy taking rank as
a first-class military power, a definite
threat to the other nations of the Euro
pean continent, if the mineral and other
resources of Ethiopia were made avail
able. England further saw her own hold
in the Sudan and Egypt endangered.
France saw Mussolini as powerful po-
tential ally of Adolf Hitler and Ger
many. Germany saw the danger OF the
olbQallOll W IlC1 oSl1. olld hcpl OlI1'
1t has been a struggle for power, just
as truly as if the nations had pitted
their armies against one another. They
play their chess game over a broad field
so broad that it is hard to gather in all
the pieces for a comprehensive picture.
The United States has played a passive
part, but this nation nevertheless has
occupied one of the chief squares on the
board. If any of the actively engaged
nations had been able to gain full sup
port by the United States, the picture
might have changed considerably The
only persons suffering from such a trend
would be American citizens, and in the
game of European diplomacy they make
no more difference than the dark-skinned
residents of Ethiopia
Great Britain has been the winner to
date. The centuries of diplomacy repre-
sented behind the door at No. 10 Down
ing street has stood the British Lion in
good stead. Mussolini is in a position
becoming almost untenable. France is
definitely committed to the support of
Britain. Most of the other nations of
Europe find themselves in the same boat.
Each of them, in the last analysis, is
looking after its own interests. They
would have more to lose by opposing the
British than if they opposed Italy. If
the proposal to grant Mussolini part
of Ethiopia takes form and wins the
necessary approval, it is certainty that
England will not lose by the trade.
There is no reason in the British mind
why Italy should not occupy large por-
tion of Ethiopia-as long as Italy does
not control the Lake Tana region, where
the Blue Nile finds its headwaters. The
Blue Nile feeds silt and life-giving water
to the Sudan and Egypt. England can
not afford to let Italy control the source
of power Outside of Lake Tana, Eng
land has little interest.
Mussolni might save his face, gain the
appearance of new power and appear
even more of a hero in the eyes of his
people by accepting the latest peace pro-
posal. He would have conquered much
of Ethiopia. That he would have lost
the objective for which he started--a
strangle-hoId to make him all-powerful
in East Africa-would not appear on
the surface Only the diplomats would
know that, and the diplomats are close
mouthed bunch when they choose to be-
AS it becomes more and more evident
that the East African crisis is nothing
more than European struggle for pow
er. however, it also becomes more evil
dent that there is no reason for the
United States to become more than pas
sively interested in the pickering. Any
o+loY ,1o1;o1, would he terrible mistake.