Evening star., 1936-04-15
Peace in the Balance.

Once again critical decisions are i'm
minent at Geneva, which will determine
whether the Italo-Ethiopian war is to
90 on until Mussolini has accomplished
the military subjugation of Halle Selas-
sizes empire or whether hostilities are
to be terminated by a peace negotiated
under League auspices. The situation is
tangled far beyond any previous aspect,
with international rivalrieS and differ
ences at their zenith. The Italians, bent
upon consolidating their strategic posi-
ton before advent of heavy rains, have
scored substantial successes in the region
which opens the way to Adds Ababa.
Fascist scouting planes have made re-
connoitering flights indicating that Mar
shal Badoglio projects an advance look
ing to the capitals capture and occupa-
ton. Dessye, former field headquarters
of the Emperor, where he was supposed
to be preparing for last stand to save
Adds Ababa, is said in Rome to have
been taken by a motorized italian col
umn without resistance, although there
are concurrent Ethiopian reports of the
massing of 900 reserve" warriors for
a stubborn defense against the invaders.
Coincident with these activities in
the theater of war, Great Britain and
France remain at violent loggerheads
over the question of Tightening or lifting
sanctions. That controversy has been
aggravated by the action of the Italians
in occupying the shore Of Lake Tana,
thus bringing to head the issue OF
infringement Of British interests in the
area embracing the headwaterS OF the
Blue Nile, with its vital Importance for
the Anglo Egyptian Sudan. Rome and
Geneva surge with rumors that Britain,
irritated by the Fascist threat at Tana,
may no longer content herself with pro-
posing oil sanctions, but may resort to
the far more drastic measure of closing
the Suez Canal to Italian troop trans
ports. Late London dispatches discount
the likelihood of this extreme step. The
Baldwin government not only realizes
that such action would automatically
precipitate the danger Of a European
war, but believes that League peace
making resources should be exhausted
before fateful military sanctions are in
voked. Britain is further restrained by
the obvious peril Of driving Italy into
Germany's arms. The French sternly
oppose an extension of sanctions at the
moment when Paris is seeking to align
Europe in a program to chastise Ger
many for violation of the Rhineland
treaties. France plainly considers that
preservation of q united front against
Nan aggression is more important just
now than Ethiopia's rights.
Italy maintains relative aloofnesS
toward these various diplomatic maneu-
yers and hesitations. II Duce is repre-
sented as scorning truce talk until all
Ethiopia is at his mercy. AS things
stand, there seems small possibility that
he will or can be cheated out Of the full
booty of his aggressive venture in colo
nial expansion. Between Anglo-French
discord, the complication of the Euro
pean situation as result Of Germany's
move on the Rhine, demonstrated League
impotence, and Italy's military superb
oritv in Africa, it begins to look as If
Ethiopia, having offered the bravest de-
fense of which she is capable, is doomed
to become a conuueror,s prize.