Montana labor news., 1935-12-26
British Imperialism
DoublecrOsses Ethiopia
Looks Out For No. |
By Scott Nearing
Federated Press

The British ruling class is, first and
last, looking out for the interests of the
British ruling class. Poor Belgium"
in 1914 and Outraged Ethiopia in
1885 are convenient political slogans
that are made to serve the needs Of
ruling class detectives.
Consider the Outraged Ethiopia"
slogan in the light Of recent events.
During the first 90 days of the Ital-
ian invasion OF Ethiopia, British ruling
class Spokesman were all steamed up
over the violation OF international ag-
.reements," the flouting Of the League
Covenant" and the resort to war again
st a fellow league member. One hun
dred fifty fighting ships were concen-
.trated in the Mediterranean the
French government was given a vir-
|tual ultimatum with or against US and
the league" league authority was
speedily invoked and sanctions were
voted and enforced. At all costs the
sanctity of treaties was to be preserv-
ed, and the rights of small nations pro-
|tected.
Early in December, there was a right
about-face. British and French spok-
esmen were looking for a formula that
would ave face for Mussolini and sat
Italian ambitions. Oil sanctions
were postponed. The talk of further
coercive measures against Italy was
dropped. In place OF the eastern Medi-
%terranean concentration Of British nav
al and military forces that had char
acterized the October November phase
OF British policy, the Baldwin ministry,
swept into office on the issue of Out
ragged Ethiopia" was cooperating with
Laval to offer Italy half of Ethiopia
if they would cali off the war.
This kaleidoscope change in British
policy is no accident. The same minis
try is in office, speaking for the same
ruling class. But there has been a vast
change in the objective situation.
In October and November the press
was filled with stories of Italian adj
vances and Italian victories that pro-
missed a speedy fulfillment OF Mussol-
mis- dream Of an Italian empire in east
Africa, with Ethiopia, Egypt, the Su-
dan and Kenya under the Italian flag,
and Suez and the Red Sea in Italian
hands. This was the Poor Outraged
Ethiopia" period of British diplomacy,
with warship and troop movement de-
signed to thwart Italian ambitions in
the direction of the lifeline of the
British empire, through Suez to India,
and the chain of British communica-
tons from Cairo to the Cape of Good
Hope.
In December the press was filled
with stories Of Italian retreats, losses
and defeats. The dream of an Ital-
ian-African empire was giving way be-
fore that nightmare Of all European
imperialists a victorious Ethiopia lead
ing an aroused African population in a
crusade against the European coloniz-
ers that might easily eventuate in an
All-African Soviet government. Cen
eral Jan SHUTS has warned the world
again and again Of this possibility
British and French states 49, men are
alike awake to it dangers.
This was the get together with
Italy" period of British diplomacy when
every effort was being made by the
British and French to prevent Ethiopia
from winning a victory that might set
all native Africa ablaze with revolt
against domination by the European
empires.
The British ruling class, like its fell
lows in other parts OF the world, is first
and last for the British ruling class.
When Italian victory threatened the
British empire in Africa, British spok-
esmen denounced Italian aggression.
When Ethiopian victory raised the
specter of colonial revolt and threaten
ed the British empire in Africa from
another direction, British Spokesman
were offering to help the Italian ruling
class dismember Ethiopia,
Peace" Justice" "~fair-dealing," "the
right OF small nations" are political
slogans uttered to hide this political
reality: the British ruling class, like
every other ruling class, is busy get
ting wealth and keeping it; getting
power and keeping it. That formula,
and that formula alone, offers an ex-
PLANTATION Of the political shifts and
lodges that are involved in looking out
for Number One.