The Omaha guide., 1940-08-03
BETWEEN THE LINES
(by Dean Gordon Hanc tck for AMP
REAL TROUBLE

When Italy went into Ethiopia a few years ago
and slaughtered its defenseless inhabitants. it had the
tacit understanding with England and France that
its course had their approval. Two years before Mus
solini ordered his armies u strike, he had the date
marked on his calendar; and France and Britain
knew it was marked. Ethiopia was a member Of
Britain's League of Nations and appealed for help,
but no help was forthcoming; and 81 the little empire
was subjugated by Italy that tried out new methods
of modern warfare upon a tribal people and gloated
over its success. It is true that France and Britain
talked about sanctions, but this was a hypocritical
gesture to appease the international indignation that
their treachery rightly incurred.
Halle Selassie made the grave mistake of taking
seriously the pledges of the League of Nations and
while he should have been occupied with the defenses
of his country he was drinking from golden goblets,
wearing his white trousers and carrying the while
his inevitable umbrella. Umbrella carrying Selassie
was duped and so was umbrella carrying Chamber
lain. We hope that our statesmen will not take to
their umbrellas for whenever the statesmen take TO
their umbrellas, their nations must take to the bushes
for protection. 1t is true that the French did not
have their umbrella statesmen, but these walked in
the shadow of Chamberlain's. With outstretched
hads Philippians cried unto God and Britain's League
of Nations for help in her distress, but she found
herself forsaken and her allies in federation with her
enemies. This was the boldest stroke of information
al hypocrisy every witnessed before the bar of public
opinion.
Today we read that Great Britain with her back
q, the wall is acclaiming Ethiopia as her ally. The
Ethiopia that was sacrificed a few years ago is now
hailed as her comrade in arms. Great promises which
she will never fulfill are being vouchsafed unto Eth
iopia in the hope that even the little help that Ethio-
pia may render in her PROSTATE condition, may re-
lieve some of Britain's pressure. When a so-called
mighty nation like Britain seeks help from poor
Ethiopia whom she betrayed before the startled gaze
of a wondering world, things must be serious indeed.
1t all goes to show what England is at heart. A
side from its great protestatiohs about its contribu-
tions to western civilization; aside from its pretenses
at international paternalsm, the fact must be faced
that Britain has done her share of the dirty work in
this world. Germany is not the only international
danger this world must deal with. After the French
bore the brunt of the fighting on the First World
Wars western front, England imposed upon Germ
any a shameful peace, and it is this that largely made
Adolph Hitler possible. 1t is safe to say that Hitler
was made in Britain When Britain recognized
Halle Seassie as the ruler eff an empire that was sac
rificed on the altar of international duplicity, we get
an idea of the real trouble with the modern world.
For quite a hundred years Britain has ruled the
waves and the miles and the modern world is largely
of her making. The heart Of Britain can best be seen
in her recent transactions with Ethiopia. To pro-
claim as ally one recently betrayed by her is the
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