Evening star., 1935-08-20

to complain. He even sold MuSSolini
from Adds Ababa to Jibuti.
Mr.. Laval may have reflected that 1t
had taken France 80 years to adjust
the Moroccan situation to her liking,
and a similar Italian preoccupation
during an equal period would be all
to French advantage.
Population Outlet Essential.
Undoubtedly he realized MuSSolini's
pressing need for finding an outlet
for the surplus Italian population. be-
cause the problem in Tunis, where the
Italians now equal. If they do not out
number, the native French and yet
object to adopting French citizenship,
must have reminded him Of it. They
had just settled that vexed question,
and he may have decided that Italian
expansion in any other direction in
Africa might be a good thing because
it would take the pressure of Italian
immigration of the French colonies.
At any rate, he saw no objection to
Mussolini's suggestion-at that time.
In return for his own concessions. Mr..
Laval got several things. but chiefly
an excellent understanding that later
produced the temporary united front
against Germany at Stresa. That was
six months ago.
However, soon after his return to
Paris Mr.. Laval began to hear things
that aroused in him some uneasineSs.
In dealing with Ethiopia. Premier
Mussolini did not adopt the French
tactics toward Morocco-the famous
Lyautey method.
That method is never to unite
country which it is desired to absorb
by offending simultaneously all the
elements in it, but to play one tribe
against another, and, having made
peace with the first, 10 use it as an
ally in subduing the second; then
with the aid of both combined to bring
a third tribe to reason. and so on
progressively.
1t is to proceed slowly. step by step.
and above all to retain the aid OF the
ruler by keeping him in nominal SOW
ereignty and by comforting on him
sufficient honors and distinction to
keep him happy.
Mussolini Wants Action.
That method did not suit Mussolini
at all, because it did not fit his needs.
What he needed was quick action and
spectacular success. He began to
adopt a hectoring tone toward Ethi-
opia
There arose frontier incidents be-
tween the two countries. The one
at Ualual was almost providential.
If it was not skillfully contrived, the
luckless Ethiopians unwittingly made
fortuitous present to their adver-
saries.
The Italian frontier post, alleged
by the Ethiopians to be in their ter
ritory. was attacked, and some Italians
were killed. The post was retaken at
great Ethiopian loss and heavily gar
risoned, but the mischief had been
done.
Mussolini began to pour troops into
Eritrea and Italian Somaliland. Stimuli
taneously he demanded satisfaction,
without, however, stating the terms
of reparation. He waxed eloquent
about Ethiopian habits and the lack
of Ethiopian civilization. He recalled
the bitter memory of Adowa and an
nounced his intention of wiping it out.
War Preparations Made.
He rediscovered slavery in Ethiopia,
ignoring the Emperor's well-meant,
but somewhat futile attempts to sup
press it. He chanted the old refrain
Of the white mans burden, proclaim
ing Italy's resolve to take it up in this
instance. Generally, he prepared to
make war without declaring it.
The Ethiopians appealed to the
League of Nations, to which they had
been admitted with Italy's blessing.
The League tried to adjust the mat
ter, but Mussolini denied its jurisdic-
ton. The League tried to ignore this
situation, but it could not be ignored;
the best the League could do was to
sidetrack it by appointing a concilia-
tion commission and hoping for the
best.
The Italian members quickly ended
the commissions activities, so the
League soon had the matter again be-
fore it in its original embarrassing
form.
Long before this Mr.. Laval had be-
come genuinely uncomfortable. He
was on the Riviera about that time
and sent word to Mussolini that he
would like to see him sgain. 1t is
probable that meeting near Vinti-
miglia was spoken Of But Musso-
lini was very busy. Perhaps he real
lied what Mr. Laval wanted to see
him about At any rate he did not
go, and Mr.. Lavars discomfort grew.
Laval Out on Limb.
The united front formed at Stresa,
the principal outcome of the Rome
meanwhile had been
shattered by the British naval
agreement with Germany. Mr.. Laval
was left with nothing to show for all
his trouble. He began to realize he
had walked out on Q limb and at tLe I
!