The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-07
ETHIOPIA'SFATE
RESTS IN HANDS
Of BIG THREE
Great Britain, France and
Italy to Discuss 1906
Treaty.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS
scrInns- Hoard ForeiEn Editor

WASHINGTON. Aug. THE fate
OF Ethiopia. It Is believed here. Will
be settled. not by the Council Of
the League scheduled to meet four
weeks hence at Geneva. but at the
secret meeting Of the Big Three in
Paris next week.
The three are Italy. Britain and
France. They are TO negotiate di-
rectly in accordance with resolu-
ton voted Saturday at Geneva The
basis OF their discussions will be
their own past understandings con-
corning the division of African
spoils, notably the treaty Of 1905.
In this treaty. Britain. France and
Italy disposed Of Ethiopian conces-
sions among themselves without
troubling to ascertain what that
country thought about It.
For more than a third Of a CEN
fury the three countries had been
maneuvering for advantage in equa-
torial Africa This was particularly
true OF Britain and France. These
two powers came within an ace of
war in so doing Italy appeared on
the scene tardily and even then
largely because Britain found her
useful in the play against France.
Britain Forces Compromise
In 1894. King Menehk granted to
France a concession to build rail-
way from the sea. via Adds Ababa
TO the Nile II was a trump card.
Britain vigorously opposed this
penetration into the Sudan, which
she herself coveted.
So, in July. 1906. the three powers
compromised. The French railway
would stop at Adds Ababa. Should
the line be pushed westward to the
Nile. Britain would be in control.
Any railway connecting the Italian
foOtholds of Eritrea. on the Red Sea,
ard Italian SOmaliland. on the In
dian ocean. would be built by italy
In order not to conflict with the
French sphere. it would pass TO the
west Of the Ethiopian capital
To make everything chubby, they
further agreed to exchange men,
bers on the various boards of con-
troll Even Ethiopia, they agreed,
might be represented thereon.
Later in the year they signed still
another agreement. EthiOpia's in
dependence was to be respected;
none would try to get ahead of the
others with concessions, and lastly.
In the event the situation changed.
none would intervene except in
agreement with the other two.
Force May Be Necessary
This agreement was not unlike the
famous nine power treaty of Wash
ingtOn to safeguard China. which
Japan scrapped in 1881 by taking
ManChuria. Britain reminds Italy
of her pledge to respect Ethiopia's
independence Italy will almost GER
tainly counter by recalling Britain's
wartime promise to give Italy
chance at some worthwhile Afri-
can colonies. if and when Germany
was defeated.
No one here seriously believes
MuSsolini will accept anything short
of a protectorate. or what amounts
to one. as his price for calling off
war He has gone too far.
The next Geneva meeting, there
fore. is not expected to change any
thing fundamental. If the Big
Three fail to agree between now
and Sept 4, and Britain insists on
the League carrying out its pledges
under the covenant. Italy will al
most certainly resign.
The meeting will then merely sf-
ford Britain the Chance-if she
wants ito be the Spearhead of a
League mandate to stop Italy by
resorting to article 16-that is to
saw. by force