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decide whether Lake Tsana might be “ effectively utilized as a reservoir for the Nile, should such a proposal ever come within the range of practical politics.” The survey party o f 1902, under C. E. Dupuis, reported that the lake, relatively unknown before, could be “ effec tively utilized as a reservoir.” Estimates have been made for the work by subsequent expeditions, the last in 1933. The Egyptian government’s five-year plan for public works has actually allotted a sum for the work during the present year; the Blue Nile and the White Nile, which meet at Khartum, have been included in one irrigation scheme. Only the present dispute with Italy has held up the plans from coming “ within the range of practical politics” today, for the British, Egyptian, and Sudan governments had been invited to Addis Ababa in May o f 1935 to confer on the final plans. The British government asked for post ponement, lest it should be thought to aggravate the Italian dispute by such steps. The construction o f a Tsana dam, however, has not been dropped permanently from view. The bulk o f the rain that supplies the Blue Nile falls in the Abyssinian mountains in July, August, and September; and under present conditions the water reaches Egypt at a period when it is not required for irrigation. Reservoirs and dams are opened, indeed, to let its full force pass to waste in the sea, to decrease the risk o f overflowing. It is from February to July that the flow o f the Nile is insufficient; it is then that the flood, if it could be delayed, would be o f supreme use in the cotton fields. A small pro portion would be passed down as required to the Sudan, and the bulk used in Egypt in the dry months to swell the shrinking Nile. Now the tragic situation ,is this, that when Mussolini gets control o f Lake Tsana, he can dam it up and cut off the water supply o f Egypt. Thus England will become directly involved. She cannot stand by and let Egypt go dry. Strange as it may seem, this blocking o f the water supply is possible; and when accomplished, this procedure would cause the waters to flow north into the Red Sea. Thus it seems as if England will be dragged into the medley in some manner, and she may suffer the same doom as Ethiopia if we interpret Ezekiel 30:3-5 correctly: “ For the day is near, even the day o f the Lord is near, a cloudy day; it shall be the time o f the heathen. And the sword shall come upon Egypt, and great pain shall be in Ethiopia, when the slain shall fall in Egypt, and they shall take away her multitude, and her foundations shall be broken down. Ethiopia, and Libya, and Lydia, and all the mingled people, and Chub, and the men of the land that is in league, shall fall with them by the sword.”
W hat I t I s A ll A bout For thirty-seven centuries, Ethiopia has stood as an independent nation. For many years it has been the only nation on the African continent not under the domination o f some other country. Originally this land was called “ Ethiopia.” Then for centuries it went under the name of “ Abyssinia,” until a few years ago the Emperor changed it back to the original name of “ Ethiopia.” O f course, Mussolini is playing hard the old game of putting the blame on Ethiopia, claiming that she was the aggressor. AH fair-minded people agree, however, that Italy is the prime mover in this crisis. In 1928 Italy signed a Treaty o f Friendship with Ethiopia. In 1935 she prepared to invade her. This reversal o f relations has not been explained in any official statement o f the Italian govern ment. The emotional utterances o f 11 Duce and the policy of Italy are identical. “ Ethiopia is a barbarous country, with the social condi tions of the Dark Ages in Europe. Her people practice unspeakable cruelties upon each other!” cries Mussolini. “ I must civilize them!” he declares. Consequently, on with war, and war in such a fashion as the stoutest-hearted Ethiopian warrior never dreamed o f— tanks, shells, poison gases, bombs! Thus we have Mussolini’s first contribution to Ethiopian civilization. How well does this case stand examination? How many, if any, o f the claims are genuine, and how much o f it is invented justification? Some of the Italian people—per haps by now, most o f them—must accept all o f it. The common people are fed on propaganda, and they are not permitted to know anything else. Wherever one goes on the streets o f Italy, he today is confronted always with Mussolini’s picture and name— even on the very cement of the streets and sidewalks. This publicizing is to remind the people constantly o f his greatness. The real attitude and reaction of the world reaches them only through the hysteri cal distortions of the official press, which press shouts con tinually that foreign countries misunderstand, insult, and are jealous o f Italy, while it takes care to omit the sub stance o f foreign criticism. With Mussolini, principles do not exist— only policies. Anything, including force and fraud, is justified if it subserves to his egoism. The Italian people, like any other home-loving people, hate war; but when Mussolini speaks, they feel impelled to conform. Britain’s only extensive interest in Ethiopia lies in Lake Tsana, which feeds the Blue Nile, which with its flow irri gates the Sudan. A treaty signed in Addis Ababa in 1902 between Emperor Menelek and Colonel Harrington, the British government’s representative, recognized that these waters have a special importance to Egypt and the Sudan. The Emperor engaged Ethiopia “ not to construct or allow to be constructed any work across the Blue Nile, Lake Tsana, or the Sobat, which would arrest the flow of their waters into the Nile,” except in agreement with the British and Sudan governments. The value to agriculture o f these waters had been recognized in Egypt from the time o f the early dynasties. But 1902 was the first time when the water-producer and the consumer-countries had been sufficiently friendly for such an agreement as this one to be possible. Menelek went further than a promise o f noninterference. He authorized the Egyptian government to send an expedition which could
Associated Press-Paramount News Photo, N. T.
In Italian territory near Ethiopia, Count Galleazzo Ciano, Premier Mussolini's son-in-law, is shown standing beside his huge bomber. Count Ciano, who led the first bombing raid over Aduwa, is commander of the "Desperate" squadron, the insignia of which appears on his plane.
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