The decision to convoke the Com= mittee of Thirteen—the Council of the League without Italy—for a further study of means of mediation Ethiopia has been favourably received in Rome. The situation {s by no means clear except to those who have at their disposal informa tion such as is available to M. Etienne Flandin and Mr, Anthony Eden, First let it be examined in the light of surface facts. Italy has established herself in the Tigre Province; she has gained two smashing victories in the Tembien are able to point to the virtue nihilation of two Ethiopian armies in the North and the severe hammering of a third. In the South General Graziani has apparently obtained substantial results in his occupation of Negelll, the former headquarters of Ras Desta. Rome talks of an advance to Lake Ashangl and the possible development of such a threat to Addis Ababa that the Emperor will abdicate 10 enable his son to make peace with the me vaders, From Addis Ababa "no definite attempt has been made to deny the Italian victories in. the Tembien. The report of the suicide of the defeated Ras Kassa fs, however, refuted. Nor is the Ethiopian capital's apparent sangtrold con~ alstent with Immediate fear of a collapse, The working of the sanctions is declared emphatically in Rome and ess emphatically In Paris to have been defective. Mr. Eden, on the other hand, told the House of Com= mons last week that the effect of sanctions was continuous and cumulative and must ultimately have an important Influence In achieving what was the main objective of the League, namely the cessation of hostilities If the recent Italian victories are as important as Marshal Badogllo claims no opportunity will be given to test the accuracy of the Foreign Secretary's statement, for Ethiopia would be on the point of sur rendering to the Inevitable, Other factors have to be "brought into focus. Italy's undoubted successes do not entirely eliminate the effects of earlier disasters. Critical though Addis Ababa's position may be, Italy may be disposed to welcome the opportunity of an iin= mediate capitalization of her vie~ tories, rather than risk the further strain on her finances at home and her man-power In the field by pressing on to the Ethiopian capital, For weakened as they are, the defenders may still have the capacity for guerrilla resistance to which the inhospitable climate and terrain will naturally give formidable reinforcement, apart altogether from the expose of the Italians to the heavier responsibilities of maintaining much-lengthened lines of communication, Signor Mussolini, Duoyed up by relief at being able again to stage one of his impressive balcony appearances, is clover enotigh to recognize the strength of magnanimity at this moment. Wheteas he might have been cxpected—In the light of some of his past pronouncements—to look askance at offers from Geneva, It Is now stated that his Government Is prepared to consider peace proposals, That may mean nothing more than a manceuvre for posltion, it must be assumed, until proof to the contrary be forihcomug, that it indicates a genuine desire to ce-operate with the League.
Flandin, it will be noted, is not hopeful and the general impression at Geneva confirms his apprehen-slon, Mr. Eden's. insistence on con~
Ainued strengthening of the sanc~ tions and his declaration of Great Britain's readiness to ce-operate In the enforcement of an all embargo, should it be approved by the Committee may be taken to reflect the Britirh view that pressure on Italy should not be relaxed, despite the new turn of events in Ethiopia. It 4s highly significant that, whatever may be the opinion in Rome, this decision has been reached by the Baldwin Cabinet, after studying the report of the League experts on the! all embargo and after the receipt of Information regarding the victories at Tembien. Tt implies tat, providing the doctrine of collective security be maintained by the League and the members of that organization, are prepared to per~ severe in their hitherto frm sup port of sanctions, Great Britain will; ce-operate and, moreover, Is pre
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.