The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1936-03-13

ca from making any defensive mil
lCary preparations.
But the Ethiopian campaign ma
TTttr{slly could not remain purely |
Tt1l! affair. Italian control Of |
6 5C.lopla directly threatened Great
DrICaln's control over Egypt. and
exposed the British Empires line
u communication through the
Suez Canal and the Red Sea. Fur
ITnermore, Great Britain, and to
lesser extent other powers mot
aDly the United States) were also
interested in sharing in the exploit
Catlon of Ethiopia. But much more
Chan this is involved. The matter
cannot end with Ethiopia. War in
Ei1Cnlopla can be only the start of
the new armed struggle to re-div-
loe the world. Italy will have to go
on to other campaigns. Germany
only waits for the most advantag-
eous moment to begin her struggle
TO regain her pre-war colonies, to
STRIKE out to the east in Europe,
and to destroy French hegemony
on the continent. Japan has al
ready begun her conquest of China
and her moves toward the Soviet
Union in the Far East. Great Brit
ain, who has the most to lose, sees
her vast empire everywhere men,
aced by the hungry powers. Like
wise, Great Britain fears the re-
psrcusslons of colonial struggle in
arousing the oppressed masses in
her own colonies and dominions.
In this light, the heroic efforts
of Great Britain to preserve peace
and to uphold the sanctity Of col
lective agreements the League be-
come ineligible. British finance
capital uses the slogans of peace
and support of the League to de-
fend her empire and try to line up
as much as possible of the rest
Of the world on her side before the
world imperialist struggle begins
In this effort, her problem with
France is particularly thorny. Fol-
France is not Immediately concern
ed in the Ethiopian affair to any
considerable degree. And France
is not sure whether Britain's side
or Italy's side at the present mo-
ment will prove in the long run
more advantageous for France
But France must have protection
on the Continent against possible
German aggression. At present
in the light of the Franco-Sovie
Pact and the defeat-for the tim
being-of the French interest
wanting agreement with Hitler
such protection can come hes
through the League. France there
fore faces the contradiction o
wishing to sabotage the Leagu
ii. e., Great Brittany in the Eth
iopian affair, while still allowing
for future strong League action i
the event of German aggression
To solve this, France attempts t
secure a pledge from Great Brit
ain for future action on the Cor
tinent, in return for supportin
Britain in the League now. Blu
Britain does not want to give a
unequivocal pledge for the futur
which would involve final brea
with Germany.
This-together with British us
of the crisis to hold new electio
with the assurance of a Conserve
tive victory-is in brief the back
ground of the daily ebb and flo
of the Ethiopian affair. In it
light, the actual fighting in Eth
iopia sinks to minor importance
Four points need special emphs
sis:
az The Ethiopian campaig
can in no sense be regarded as
local matter. It cannot be under
stood except as the prelude to tn
new inperialist world war. A ten
porarv solution, satisfactory
Italv. Great Britain and Franc
may very probably be worked on
but this can only prove to be
short postponment. .Italy's aggre
sion is the demonstration that II
conflicts of world Imperialism hay
gone beyond the stage OF econon
ic competition, "police" measure
trade wars, to the stage OF arme
struggle for the redivision OF ii
world. Since the conflicts OF IN
neriaIism. as we have seen, ope
ate internationally, it follows tn
the approaching war will be int
national in scope, involving
great nations-and, indirectly
Iaoc+ +he entire world.