Evening star., 1936-01-20
Faith of Italian People in Mussolin;
mistaken Despite Hardship of War
Determination IN
Ethiopia Sho,cs No
Signs of Weakening
Oil Sanctions and
Feuer for Var Held
Danger Points.
Note: This is the second OF a
series OF traDel articles.
BY BEN McKELWAY,

BY BEN McKELWAY.
Special STAFF Correspondent Of The Star.
ROME.-Newspaper men and others
who make a business of observing
conditions in italy will tell you that
Mussolini is stronger with his people
today than ever before, that he has
gained rather than lost prestige
through the Ethiopian undertaking,
that the total lack of opposition IN
Italy to government policies and the
absolute unity of "disciplined' peo-
pie under strong leadership constitute
the most remarkable political phe-
nomenon of modern times. not dupli-
Gated in Russia. Germany or even
Japan. 1t is this condition. they say.
regardless of the methods utilized in
developing it, with which the world
must deal in seeking to punish Italy.
Judged by normal standards, it is
contended, Italy might be regarded
as licked before she starts. A nation
which has always bought more from
the world than she has sold, making up
the balance through the tourist 5usi-
ness and remittances from abroad,
has now been cut off In effect, from
commercial relations with large
part of the world The tourist busi-
ness has gone fiat along with the re-
mittances. With practically no natural
resources except sunshine, rather
fertile soil and a rapidly growing
population, Italy suddenly decides to
become a self contained nation. Few
people outside of Italy see how she
can do it.
Confidence in Success.
Yet that is Mussolini's answer to
the sanctions and in Rome one finds
surprising amount of confidence
among intelligent men in his ability
in large measure to succeed. The point
these men make is that the people of
Italy have become accustomed to
disciplined following -the-leader. There
is no opposition to Mussolini in Italy.
they contend, not even from those
who may disagree with his policies.
Under such conditions a leader like
Mussolini can do what otherwise
would be regarded as impossible One
must judge Italy's powers of resist
ence by Italian standards and not
by the standards that would be ap-
piled in other nations.
So far, it is said, there has been no
single sign OF weakening on 1taly's
part in the determination to carry out
the Ethiopian conquest. That UNDER
taking has been clothed. through
skilled use OF propaganda. in the
shining raiment Of divinely-inspired
crusade. In Rome the delay in push
ing forward the military campaign in
Ethiopia is attributed more to the
fact that Mussolini has been keeping
his eye on the political turn of events
in Europe. hesitating to send his expe-
dictionary force too far inland, rather
than to the actual physical difficult
ties in Ethiopia
England's attitude. of course. has
been regarded all along IN Italy as
having been dictated solely by Eng
lands own selfish purposes. whatever
they may be. The suggestion that
vi Cdt 0i1Cdlll dAld tilC WI lIllOuSu
the League, are proceeding under a
new moral conception of responsibility
N the protection of weaker peoples
brings only hollow laughter from those
who point to Japans conquest, with
out interference of North China and
to Great Britain's own vast colonial
empire.
British Fleet Infiames Resentment.
The continued presence of the
British fleet in Alexandria is regarded
as a constant threat to peace that
has been successful only in infiaming
Italian resentment. I was told by
man in Rome that he has
been constantly surprised by the num-
Der of conservative. intelligent Italian
professional men who have seriously
suggested that Italy's airplanes should
lombard the British fleet.
Many of them seem to feel that war
is inevitable anyhow; they are not
anxious for war, but If it has to come