Foreign Affairs

Southland Times, Issue 25309, 12 June 1935, Page 9

Foreign Affairs

IN FASCIST ITALY PRESTIGE OF MUSSOLINI THE AFFAIR OF ABYSSINIA (By “Criticus.”) English newspapers with anti-Fas-cist ideas, especially the Manchester Guardian, have spoken of letters from Italy stating that there have been riots and strikes to express dissatisfaction with Mussolini’s policy in regard to Abyssinia and that the personal prestige of il Duce has fallen; but there must be set against these direct, denials by the government and by English correspondents in Italy, who add that the Dictator’s standing in popular opinion was never higher. Every incident reported from Abyssinia moves the Italian people to new demands for energetic action in Abyssinia, and in some quarters there is to be found a deep suspicion of Britain, but this is due to the efforts of the British Government to refer the dispute to the League. Of course, the Italian newspapers, like those of Russia, are careful to say nothing to offend the government and so, when journals attack Britain it is fair to assume that Mussolini regards inflammatory articles without disapproval. This popular disapproval or Britain, however, manifested itself in March when Sir John Simon and Mr Eden were paying visits to Berlin and Moscow. , , A “shot” of the Union Jack evoked titters of amusement, and when the British representatives were seen arriving at the Tempelhof aerodrome the audience burst into laughter. Until the Press was given its cue—and no other interpretation can be put on such a sudden concerted outburst of criticism—the public mind merely showed bewilderment and curiosity in trying to understand Britain’s foreign policy. But as regards internal questions, the man in the street knows what is happening and forms his own conclusions, although he is averse to revealing them to strangers. He is only too well aware that the present crisis in foreign relations has had a serious reaction on commerce and finance. Business, which was already suffering from severe restrictions on the export and import trade, has experienced a further set-back. The call to the colours affects every class of the population, and the mechanism of every-day life has been badly dislocated. The wild fluctuations in foreign exchange are being watched with anxious eyes. The cost of living has risen ominously. With these inexorable facts troubling his mind, the man in the Italian street, although still hopeful and resolute, cannot contemplate the immediate future with any degree of cheerfulness. Only the army appears to be a first-class going concern. Mussolini has talked of 1,000,000 bayonets for the defence of Italy. Approximately that number is now under arms. This has led to work in factories dealing with war material. Then there is the baffling question of Abyssinia. Until Germany came into the picture on March 23 the man in the street was asking himself—and others —what the move in that direction meant, and why. The new crisis at home overshadowed it, but mystery of the expedition sent to North-East Africa was before him. No one knew much about it at first and there was little enthusiasm. Abyssinia was to the man in the street a vague entity dividing two Italian colonies where barbaric negro tribes are ruled by a Negus and served by slaves but little less savage than themselves. They occupy a region rich in natural resources, which they refuse to share with civilized Powers, and are, in fact, an unpleasant obstable to civilization itself, since they eat raw meat and practise a debased form of Christianity. Beyond these elementary ideas, which interest him very little, the Italian man in the street has had no knowledge of the mediaeval empire in the African hinterland, and has cared less. Reports of clashes between frontier posts failed to excite him, but when two divisions were mobilized for service in Africa he began to show some concern in the mystery. No war was on the horizon, yet professional men and artisans alike suddenly found themselves under orders for active service.

Early concentrations were marked by some organization blunders, and by recollection of Adowa, nearly forty years ago, the government issuing pamphlets designed to explain to the people that the Battle of Adowa in which an Italian force was smashed by Menelik, with the loss of more than two-thirds of its number, was really a victory. Adowa has not been without its advantages, because it has reminded Mussolini that the Abyssinian is not to be taken lightly, hence the determination to send to the front a force large enough to put the military issue beyond doubt. Mussolini cannot afford to lose if battle is joined. The problem is not easy and a vast amount of preparatory work must be accomplished before there can be any advance in force. The lack of roads and other facilities for an advance in force has been made clear in emphatic language by military observers in both African colonies. Their views at first may not have been received with much favour in high places, but they explain Italy’s readiness to delay bringing the discussions to an issue.

The theories lately advanced by the man in the street for an Abyssinian campaign are varied and curious. The cynical view is that Italy must be selfcontained in her natural resources and Abyssinia can make good this deficiency. He will suggest that Great Britain and France have given their tacit consent to an Italian occupation of the country, in order to restore law and order and protect the adjacent colonies from attack. In this connection it is interesting to note that the Rome Press recently announced that border tribesmen had made a raid into British Somaliland. The report is generally believed, despite the denial issued elsewhere. Another suggestion made is that the Abyssinians themselves are desirous of a change of government. The deposed Lige Yassu, who has been in confinement since Haile Selassie ascended the throne, is mentioned as the possible instigator of a revolution which will lead to the rebels putting themselves under Italian protection. Contractors were despatched by aeroplane on rapid survey of the forward territory over which an expeditionary force must move, and Mussolini is still going steadily forward. “The man in the street has full faith in his government,” says Sir Percival Phillips. “If it were decided to invade Abyssinia for this or that reason, he would slipport the enterprise outwardly, .whatever qualms he might feel as to its wisdom or success. Mussolini has made Italy once more a first-class Power, and the people behind him, irrespective of their secret political convictions, • are with him to a man. They certainly look to him to find a way out of the European crisis, and free them from the mena'ce which they think threatens them from the north. To many he is still them god.” One should add that to most Italians he is still a super-man.