Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-05-11
The Roman Empire.

To a joy-crazed Fascist throng assem-
bled in the Piazza Venezia Saturday
highland in tones that still rang
stentorian as radio transmitted them to
these shores-Mussolini proclaimed the
re-birth Of the Roman Empire on the
ruins of conquered Ethiopia. As the
emblems of its reincarnation, II Duce
conferred upon King Victor Emmanuel
the title of Emperor of Ethiopia and
designated Marshal Badoglio as viceroy
of the vast territory formally annexed
to Italy It is this accomplished military
and political fact that faces the Council
of the League of Nations as it convenes
at Geneva today for the most humiliattng
session in the history of that organiza-
ton of collective futility.
Even transatlantic static failed to
conceal from American ears the buster
ing arrogance with which the dictator
emphasized the finality of Fascist agrees
sion in East Africa. THE italian people
have created an empire with their
blood" he shouted. They will fertilize
it with their work. They will defend it
against any one with their men!" Thus
Mussolini serves notice that the empire
of the Caesars, 1886 model, will be held
against all corners who dare to challenge
its righteousness or strength. The warn
ing Enthusiastically was timed to offer
prompt defiance to the Geneva powers at
the moment they are foregathering to
survey the wreckage Of their attempts
to prevent Italy's wanton attack on a
fellow member of the League.
In view of the ignominious failure to
save Ethiopia, the problem now Is how
to save the League. 1t is task fraught
with perplexing difficulties because OF
lost faith in the institutions peace
preserving power, especially among
smaller nations, which have before them
the terrifying example of strong coun-
try's ability to destroy weak neighbor
without hindrance by the League. Seven
of these states-the Netherlands, Sweden,
Norway, Denmark, Finland, Switzerland
and Spain-favor a united anti-Italian
front and upholding what is left OF
League prestige by maintenance OF sane
tions. To what extent this belated pro-
gram can be carried out depends mainly
on Great Britain and France. In both
of those countries sentiment is divided.
British leaders like Winston Churchill
and Sir Austen Chamberlain. formerly
strong advocates of punitive measures,
brand a continuance of sanctions as
futile, if not dangerous.
Britain and France, nevertheless, are
loath to recognize Italy's outright annex
alton of Ethiopia because OF their re-
spective spheres of interest there. The
British envision with sour mien Fascist
domination of Lake Tana and overload
ship of the waters requisite for irrigation
of the Anglo Egyptian Sudan. The
French are reluctant to relinquish their
ownership of the railroad connecting
Adds Ababa with French Somaliland
and the sea.
But Emperor" Victor Emmanuel and
Mussolini, the author of his imperial
glory, sit in almost impregnable position,
as a baff1ed League meets to pass judg-
ment on its own impotence. The world
waits with interest, if not confidence,
to see what is going to be done about
1t all, especially if methods are discov-
cradle to thwart aggression before others,
encouraged by Mussolini's triumph, sally
forth on empire-building marauding ex-
petitions in regions nearer Geneva than
Ethiopia.