Evening star., 1936-07-02
Ethiopia at Geneva.

While it is a foregone conclusion that
the League of Nations is not going to
dislodge Italy from Ethiopia and restore
the independence of the subdued state,
Emperor Halle Selassies pathetic plea
for Justice" delivered before the AS
sembly at Geneva, will rank as one OF the
most remarkable episodes in modern MS
tory. That the dethroned monarch's
scathing indictment of the Leagues
pusillanimity did not fall on deaf ears
is manifest from the immediate threat OF
Latin American states to withdraw from
the body because of its ignominious fall-
ure in the African conflict.
Chagrin and misgivings on this score
are not confined to the western side OF
the Atlantic. The foreign ministers OF
seven European nations-Denmark, Fin
land. Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands
Spain and Switzerland-announced that
their countries. too, are now filled Win
doubts as to whether the conditions un-
der which they assumed League oblga-
tions still obtain. The smaller League
states are thus in almost unanimous re-
volt against Geneva because OF its DEM
onstrated inability to fulfill the cove
nant's pledge of collective security. CO.
incident with castigation of the Leagues
sorry performance in its jousting with
Mussolini the Assembly echoed with al
firmation of unwillingness to recognize
the validity of the Fascists' ill-gotten
gains Premier Blum categorically al
firms Frances refusal to acknowledge an
nexation. British Foreign Secretary
Eden Is of the same mind. ColombiaS
delegate indicates that Latin American
republics are in stern anti-recognitlon
mood
After italian occupants of the press
gallery INDUCED in an unseemly demon
stration against Halle Selassie, creating
scenes of violence and disorder unparal-
leled in League experience, the deposed
emperor addressed the Assembly IN
courageously candid and moving terms
He was sympathetically welcomed ana
attentively heard, as he admonished the
representatives of So nations not to Gre
ate the fatal precedent of bowling to force
by accepting the Italian conquest. He
warned the assembled world statesmen
that God and history will remember
your judgment" The ex-king OF kings
narrated how he had placed Implicit
faith in League support, never imagining
that such an aggregation OF power would
bend the knee to the aggressor or per-
NIT a fellow member nation ruthlessiy to
be crushed out of existence. II DuceS
imperial victim minced no words IN
CHALLENGING the selfish motives OF Ger
tain nations" which shrank from ap-
plying sanctions to the limit, charging
France in particular with having made
private deal at Rome to abandon
Ethiopian independence to italian greed.
Halle Selassie argued roundly that Moth
ing less than international morality" is
now at stake. Not the least impressive
feature Oh IllS pldAl1AFC oPPN> W."
account of Italy's use Of poison gas. To
it he mainly ascribed the collapse OF
Ethiopian resistance because of his peo-
pies inability to overcome this refine
ment of barbarism."
Geneva is not yet finished with the
consequences of the Italian aggression.
No one expects that the League can pos
sibIy re-establish Ethiopias former
status. but her fate may pave the way to
reorganization of the world association
on lines adapted to practical realities and
thus serve the cause of peace by making
a repetition of land-grabbing on the
Fascist model at least less likely than
before.