The Auckland Star WITH WHICH AND INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun. MONDAY, MAY 4, 1936. THE LESSON OF ETHIOPIA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 104, 4 May 1936, Page 6

The Auckland Star WITH WHICH AND INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun.

MONDAY, MAY 4, 1936. THE LESSON OF ETHIOPIA.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the icrong that needs resistance For the future in the distance, A.nd the good that ice do.

The military part of Signor Mussolini's "colonial expedition" will shortly be completed with a triumphal entry of Italian troops into Addis Ababa. It is unlikely that they will be opposed, for with the flight of the Emperor and his family the last rallying-point has disappeared, and the spectacle now presented is that of a disorderly mob looting and burning in Addis Ababa. So Mussolini's gamble—in which he risked a military defeat, a war in Europe and the overthrow of the Fascist regime—is succeeding in a shorter time than even lie in his most sanguine moments could have hoped. But it is clear noAV that the estimates of the resistance which would be offered his armies were grossly exaggerated, particularly in England. There is little evidence that the advance of those armies has been seriously impeded by anything except natural obstacles.

The Emperor's decision to abdicate was naturally 1 influenced by the disaffection of some of the savage or semi-savage tribes which make up what has been euphemistically described as the Ethiopian nation. But even up to the last day Haile Silassie, according to his publicity department, was proclaiming his invincible determination "to fight to the last man." This publicity department, which functioned never more strongly than when the Emperor was missing from the capital, has played a part in this war that historians may regard with astonishment. Using every means of propaganda, including radio, it has succeeded in creating a mental picture, among millions abroad, of a simple and pious people, united in devotion to their Emperor, and resolved to die to the last man (and woman) in defence of the independence which they have preserved through the centuries.

The League took the view that Italy's aggression in Ethiopia was a violation of treaties and of the Covenant, and a deadly blow at the principle of collective security. No other view could be taken, or can be held now. The League's primary mistake had been made years before in admitting Ethiopia to full membership, when, as appears now, she was unfitted for it. That having been done, there was no room left for negotiations which might have removed the causes of Italian grievances and possibly led to a transfer of territory without detriment to the native inhabitants. The use of bombing 'planes and gas by the Italian invader cannot be condoned, but these tactics are of much less importance than the conditions which led Mussolini to conclude that only by warfare could he gain his ends. The same conditions—the rigidity of the League framework and tfie inability or unwillingness of the League Powers to permit the modifications which events are showing to be essential —still remain, and they not only make the task of preserving peace more difficult, but they set up a risk that any conflict may develop into a world war.