Evening star., 1935-10-17
John Bull Saws ssNO!"

Great Britain's uncompromising re-
fuSal to withdraw single warship from
the Mediterranean not only abruptly
ends M. Laval's Italo-E Ethiopian peace
efforts, but distinctly increases the peril
of European war. Italy is filled with
alarm over the situation as it envisions
q Britain resolved at any cost to thwart
Mussolini's ambitions. With London's
determination adamant and tension at
Rome running high, there seems little
exaggeration in the impression that
peace remains at the mercy Of the Incl
dent in the Mediterranean"
Despite earlier denials. France made
a formal suggestion that peace prospects
would be enhanced If the fleet of $50
British vessels standing guard over
Gibraltar. Malta and both entrances to
the Suez Canal were substantially re-
duced, while Italy as counter gesture
withdrew troops recently thrown in large
numbers into Libya, adjoining Egypt.
Britain sees no reason to relax the pre-
cautionary measures" which led to the
naval mobilization along her 'life line"
to India. Her position is that if there
is to be peace, sole responsibility rests
with Italy, which broke it, and that until
Mussolini halts his aggression in Ethi-
opia and negotiates with the League,
the British cannot abandon steps for
which the situation calls.
The result is deadlock and danger.
Italians are persuaded that Britain will
try to induce Geneva to entrust to her
any measures necessary to stop war in
Ethiopia. If such a mandate is with
ahead on their own account, with clos
ing of the Suez Canal and blockade Of
the Italian coasts as their first recourse.
So Mussolini and his people look upon
their African adventure as having SIM
mered down to a struggle between Italy
and Great Britain. Conditions are no
less critical because Of the prestige angle
involved. II Duce realizes that his dicta-
torial status might be shattered by any
appearance of weakening before British
force. Britannia, having particularly in
mind its millions of native subjects in
Africa and Asia, must avoid action savor-
ing of yielding to Fascism's threat.
If economic, financial and, eventually,
military sanctions are required to check
Mussolini, the burden will rest over
whelmingly on Britain. Her firm stand
is based nominally on that contingency
and on her intention to fulfill her League
obligations But John Bulls considera-
ticns far outrun his responsibilities un-
der the covenant. He is thinking Of what
Italian conquest of Ethiopia would mean,
in the long run. He sees victorious die
tator, his realm in Africa widely ex-
panded, thirsting for new fields to con.
quer. He envisages an Italian raid on
Egypt, on the Sudan, on Malta, on
Cyprus. on the Suez Canal and perhaps
on Eritain's vast colonial domain in South
Africa. He conjures up the prospect Of a
Mediterranean and Red Sea mastered
no longer by ships flying the white en-
sign, but by ironclads bearing the BAN
ner of Rome. John Bull contemplates,
in short, developments that might spell
the doom Of his worldwide empire. That
is why Britain says an imperious mo- to
proposals that she remove her fleet from
the Mediterranean. 1t is an attitude
plainly that Mussolini will challenge at
grave risk not only to Italy, but to the
peace of Europe, for an Anglo-Italian
conflict could not conceivably be "lo-
Called"