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December 15, 193 5
John Langdon Davies on
World Affairs
Helen E. McKxight, ’139
The second of a series of cultural
programs at Spelman was the lecture
of John Langdon Davies, on National
Affairs, in Howe Memorial Hall, No
vember 20.
The lecturer, discussing the Italo-
Ethiopian conflict as an affair involv
ing many nations, requested the audi
ence to imagine themselves Italians so
that they might better understand the
Italian point of view in the situation.
Italy claims that the Treaty of Ver
sailles was a raw deal for her, and as
a result she will seek to accomplish
the civilization of Ethiopia. Musso
lini's reasons for aggression in this
African country, as stated by Mr.
Davies, are as follows: (1) Italy wants
a place for colonizing her dense popu
lation and at the same time retain
them as Italians. (2) Essential natu
ral resources are lacking. The speaker
held that it is impossible to place 10,-
000,000 Italians in Ethiopia (as Mus
solini wishes) when there are only
three and one-half million whites in
the whole of Africa; therefore there
is no solution in sending Italians to
Ethiopia. He also said that the move
ment for wealth promises another fail
ure, because no country can obtain any
economic good from war which re
sults in revolution -and destruction.
The war would probably last for four
years and by that time Italy would
be completely poverty stricken. The
real reason for the Italian aggression
is not for necessities but to turn pub
lic attention from the approaching
bankruptcy of Italy.
One cannot blame the Italian for his
point of view, because he has been
taught these things by the government
which rules him body and soul. It has
been drilled into the Italian minds that
war is the only way to meet their
needs, and little boys are being taught
daily the methods of warfare. This
training is given them to have them
prepared in future years to undertake
the civilizing of other countries.
The attitude of the French is based
on a desire for security for which
France looks to the League of Na
tions which feeds her one hope of
Democracy. She meanwhile tries to ob
tain this security by decided friendli
ness with Italy. Mr. Davies said that
the prime minister of France, Laval,
is reputed as shaking his finger vig
orously over the table in Italy’s face
to impress England and at the same
time keeping on good terms with Italy
by pressing the Italian’s toes under
the table.
The British want the League minus
the Treaty of Versailles. Britain be
THE CAMPUS MIRROR
lieves in a strong League and is de
termined to support it strongly. Many
are wondering, since this is Britain’s
attitude, why she didn’t protest to Ja
pan’s aggression in China as she now
does Italy’s in the present conflict in
Africa. The reasons for protest today
are two, which are: Italy’s aggression
threatens the British Empire which is
acting by the will of the British peo
ple. This will, as expressed in a docu
ment signed by 30,000,000 of them,
held that they would not support the
government if it failed to keep its
word and support the League.
The speaker then listed the dangers
which involve all nations as a result
of the interwoven relations and inter
ests that exist. The present dangers
are in the relations between France
and Germany, Italy and Ethiopia, and
in the League and sanctions on Italy.
The real danger lies in the conflict
between Japan and Russia. The latter
is peaceful, with the hope in mind of
holding communism up as a pattern be
fore other countries. Japan is over
crowded with her population and needs
food and more trade, but America,
England and other countries are
strangling trade. Japan sees one solu
tion, which is to civilize China, thus
creating a means of expansion for
her people. It is believed that within
a few years, Germany and Japan will
be regarded as saviors of civilization
in regard to Russia. Both plan to in
vade Russia and we see Germany busy
patching up grievances with Poland
and other countries in order to gain
their support.
In spite of the entanglement of na
tional affairs, at present there are
some enlighening facts to be consid
ered. It is obvious that the three dic
tator countries are on the verge of
decline. Another very important point
is the new outlook of the League. It
is now regarded as a serious organi
zation which is far from “the puny
little thing that was deserted by its
father and left on a doorstep and
brought up by England.” The increas
ing strength of the League was shown
when fifty-two nations agreed to stop
the war in Africa by the best possible
means. Although some countries are
not friendly with others, such as Ire
land and Russia with England, they
are staunch supporters of the League.
Today we see a new kind of patriot
ism in the various countries. The old
slogan “For my country right or
wrong" no longer exists and every
citizen of each country sees to it that
its government stands up to its obli
gations and checks those ideas or re
strictions Avhich will lead to war and
not to ]Aeace.
Conference on Vocational
Guidance and Education
for Negroes
Of interest to everyone on the corn-
pus was tht“ conference on Vocational
Guidance and Education for Negroes,
which was held at Atlanta University
by the National Occupational Confer
ence, dated December 9-14, 1935. At
tending the session were college presi
dents, school principals and supervis
ors, V. M. (’. A. workers, government
officials, business men, newspaper edi
tors, and others competent to deal with
the subjects for discussion.
The conference was planned by a
committee of local citizens, headed by
President John Hope of Atlanta Uni
versity, and was conducted under the
general supervision of Dr. Franklin
J. Keller, director of the National Oc
cupational Conference.
At the opening session on Monday
afternoon, R. I. Rees, of New York
City, assistant vice-president of the
American Telephone and Telegraph
Company, presided, and the purposes
of the conference were outlined by Dr.
Willis A. Sutton, superintendent of
schools, Atlanta.
A general session was held on Tues
day evening, at which time economics
and vocational guidance was consid
ered under the chairmanship of Pro
fessor Ira De. A. Reid, of Atlanta
University. On Wednesday and Thurs
day afternoons, two general sessions
were held, at which the analyzing of
individuals was discussed.
Other topics of interest were rural
schools, secondary schools, colleges and
universities, industry and commerce.
Interesting group discussions were
also witnessed, such as “Creating Oc
cupational Opportunities,” led by
Forrester B. Washington, director, At
lanta School of Social Work; “Place
ment," led by Mrs. Charlotte Hawkins
Brown, president, Palmer Memorial In
stitute; “Vocational Guidance,” led
by Dr. Frank Horne, acting principal,
F ort Valley Normal and Industrial
School; “Curriculum with Reference
to Vocational Guidance,” led by
Frederick McQuestion, executive agent,
Southern Association of Colleges and
Secondary Schools; “Opportunities
for Counselling in Schools and Col
leges," led by R. O'Hara Lanier, dean
Houston College for Negroes; “Occu
pational Information,” led by Presi
dent John W. Davis, of West Virginia
State College.
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