13 MAY 1938, Page 1

Abyssinia at Geneva The discussions on Abyssinia at the League

of Nations Council will not have taken place till these words are in print. No one can hope that they will be anything but painful, and the only person likely to emerge from them without discredit is the dignified and pathetic Emperor, Haile Seilassie. If the Abyssinian question is to be isolated, the arguments against de jure recognition of Italy's position in Abyssinia at this juncture are overwhelming, as a letter from Sir Norman Angell on another page of this issue shows. Unfortunately it cannot be isolated. We are living under the menace of a European War, but the Anglo-Italian agreement, in which the recognition of Abyssinia simultaneously with the with- drawal of Italian troops from Spain was a necessary ingredient, has sensibly diminished the danger of that immeasurable disaster. Italy may not have effectively subjugated Abyssinia —it is clear indeed that she has not—but it is inconceivable that she should contemplate withdrawing from the country now. Only those who seriously believe she may can have any justification for encouraging the continued destruction of Abyssinian lives which continued resistance involves. A far better course is to urge the British Government to impress on Signor Mussolini the advantages of Lord Lugard's proposal whereby the Emperor would be offered autonomy over a part of his former dominions under Italian suzerainty.