LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
[Correspondents are requested to keep their letters as brief as is reasonably possible. The most suitable
length is that of one of our " News of the Week " paragraphs. Signed letters are given a preference over those bearing a pseudonym.—Ed. Tim SPECTATOR.]
GREAT BRITAIN AND ABYSSINIA
[To the Editor of TICS. SPECTATOR.]
Sra,—So much attention has been drawn to the possible fate of the League of Nations in consequence of the Italo-Abyssin- ian dispute, that one is prone to overlook the humanitarian aspect of the present issue. Italy, with avowed aggressive intent, is pouring troops and all the paraphernalia of war on to the borders of a backward country—a country which has, however, justified her admittance into the comity of nations by her willingness to submit a dispute to. arbitration and accept the verdict even though it may not be to, her advantage. On the other hand,. all efforts to persuade Italy to adopt a more conciliatory spirit have proved abortive. The arbitration begun at Scheveningen has provided the subtle means for gaining time. Italian preparations have gathered so formidable a momentum that conflict, if not the complete conquest of the Kingdom of Ethiopia, is inevitable. We are on the eve of a hideous slaughter of a virtually unarmed people—a people who had put their reliance on other powers to avert hoitilities or, failing to do so, to assist them in the defence of their hoMeland. They may be a wild and undis- ciplined people, but any barbarities they may have committed will sink into utter insignificance against the indiscriminate massacre .now being organized. One can quite appreciate the reluctance of our Government to beconN embroiled in a matter of this kind, but can our suspension of export licences,. and its effect of depriving Abyssinia of modern weapons of defence, be interpreted as an act of neutrality ? One of the objects of the 1930 Treaty, signed by Britain, France and Italy, is expressly declared to be to " enable the Emperor of Ethiopia to obtain arms and munitions necessary for the defence of his territories from external aggression." For our Government, in the face of this formal assurance, now to suspend the export to Abyssinia of the arms she needs for her defence is clearly a gross breach of good faith and, in view of the fact that Italy is an arms-producing State, such an act amounts to a deliberate discrimination against Abyssinia.
Greet Britain may urge for a commission on the delimitation of frontiers, to assist in executing measures for the prevention Of slave raiding and for accelerating the liberation of existing slaves, and it may be advisable to advocate drastic proposals of economic reform, but, by every canon of justice we arc surely under a direct obligation to help this race to maintain her independence. Because other powers disregard the sancity of treaties it does not absolve us from honouring obligations solemnly entered into to meet such a case as has uow arisen.—I am, Sir, your obedient servant, National Liberal Club, S.W.1. BRIAN LEIGHTON%
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