3 SEPTEMBER 1937, Page 2

Abyssinia and Geneva It is impossible to say how much

truth there is in recent rumours of the difficulties which Italy has encountered in her self-appointed task of civilising Abyssinia. It has been alleged, for instance, that the resistance of the tribes has been effective enough even to persuade Signor Mussolini to offer to restore Haile Selassie as a puppet emperor, in return for a pledge of loyalty. The most it is safe to assert is that Italy's effective sovereignty in Abyssinia is confined to a relatively small area ; while the Abyssinian refugees, estimated at 8,000, who have trekked, in the face of every kind of difficulty and danger, across the border into Kenya testify to the general refusal to accept Italian rule. These conclusions are irr no way surprising ; but they have some importance in view of the question of Abyssinia's membership of the League. Whatever may be said of Italy's sovereignty, there can be no question that Haile Selassie's is at an end ; and so long as the League is a League of sovereign States, Abyssinia can have no valid claim to membership. It would be wise to admit this at Geneva ; but, neither the League nor any of its members can, without complete betrayal of the fundamental principles of the Covenant, give de jure recognition to an Italian sovereignty established by aggression and conquest. Even Signor Mussolini seems to be conscious of that.