Alliance with Abyssinia
As our columns converge on Addis Ababa, co-operating closely with, and substantially aided by, bands of Abyssinian " patriots " headed by British officers, the day when the whole of Abyssinia will be free of Italian domination approaches. What precisely will be the status of the country then? Fortunately there can be no reasonable doubt about that. It will be restored to the independence of which Italy treach.f.ronly despoiled it in 1936. Speaking in the House of Commons on February 4th of this year, Mr. Eden stated explicitly that "His Majesty's Government would welcome the reappearance of an independent Ethiopian State, and recognise the claim of the Emperor Haile Selassie to the throne." There is no ambiguity about that, and the moment may be near when the wrong done to Abyssinia by Italy's wanton violation of her treaty-undertak ings will be righted in the eyes of all the world. As Mr. Eden added, this country has no territorial ambitions in Abyssinia, and it may be assumed that it would countenance no ambit:crs, if such are cherished, in any other quarter. But the relation of the independent Abyssinia with Great Britain will need to be defined. The mcst obvious relationship would be that of an alliance such as exists today between this country and Egypt. Strictly speaking Abyssinia cannot be termed an ally till some such agreement is concluded. But on every ground, particu- larly in view of the new awareness and sensitiveness of all native Africa regarding the relations of the black and white races, it is eminently to be desired that the idea of alliance between an independent Britain and an independent Abyssinia should be inculcated on all occasions.
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