The Situation in Abyssinia There are certain important regions of
the world regard- ing which we have to depend on information that is always inadequate, and not always reliable. One of them is Abyssinia. In view of the inevitable marshalling of forces on the international stage, there are good reasons for desiring to know whether that country is to be regarded as an asset to Italy, as Italians were claiming till lately, or a liability, as most competent commentators in other countries pre- dicted. In that connexion a message from Port Said in the Daily Telegraph of Tuesday deserves some attention. It paints a picture that can hardly be congenial to Signor Mussolini of the state of Abyssinia, where the colonisation scheme is said to have ended in total failure, brigands are roving the country and the Italians hold only the towns, and though some notable achievements in road-making have been carried through, some of the new.highways are already deteriorating for lack of money for upkeep. Reports from Port Said via Jibuti are not the most satisfactory form of news regarding Abyssinia, but Jibuti is in fact the only channel through which•objective news can emerge. What- ever the precise situation, it is safe to conclude that if Italy ever found herself engaged in hostilities in Libya the irregular forces still in active existence in Abyssinia would create considerable difficulties for her there.
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