A Rash Publication It is difficult to see what capital
Italy can make out of the secret report on -British interests in Abyssinia which the Giornak d'Italia has somehow secured and published. The report was drafted by an interdepart- mental committee, presided over by Sir John Maffey, Permanent Under-Secretary at the Colonial Office, and presented to the Foreign Office last June, at a time when relations between Italy and Abyssinia had become strained, but before there was immediate danger of war. The gist of the committee's conclusions is that Italian " control of Abyssinia would be a matter of little moment so far as purely British interests were concerned ; on balance it would 'probibly be slightly advantageous. But the conclusions are .certainly not such as to suggest that such action by Italy would have the character or effect of a " civilising mission." On the other hand, the report, which was never meant for the public eye. disposes decisively of the idea that 'Britain is opposing Italy today for her-own purposes. That suggestion being ruled out, loyalty to -the - League remains the only con- wincing explanation of this country's policy. The Giornak d'Italia may on reflection regret its decision to give the Maffey report to the world.
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