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THE MAROON TIGER
Page 8
sources, and, incidentally, the complete exclusion of the
80% rival Japanese monopoly in Abyssinian markets.
And so, presumably with some understanding between
Italy, Britain and France, Mussolini at last struck upon
a causus belli which forcibly reminds me of the fable
of the unscrupulous wolf and the inoffensive lamb.
As a result of the clash which arose between Italian
and Abbysinian troops at Ulalal five months ago, the
fiery Mussolini demanded immediate apologies and in
demnities from Emperor Haile Selassie. Indeed, when
one examines Mussolini’s demands, one cannot help but
appreciate the absurdities with which they bristle. More
over, one asks the question, How is it that Italian and
Abyssinian troops came to clash in Ulalal which all
along has been thought to belong to Abussinia; and fur
thermore, why should the emperor apologize to Italy
when Italy should do the apologising? To me, this act
savors something like adding insult to injury. The world
knows of the courageous refusal of the African emperor
to accede to these demands and of his promptly invoking
the aid of the League of Nations.
It is significant that although Italy loudly proclaimed
that the matter was not within the jurisdiction of the
League, she did not press her demands; nevertheless,
she carried her intentions to enforce her spurious claim
on Ulalal by force of arms in the form of the mobiliza
tion of her troops along the Italo-Abyssinian frontiers.
The position is indeed a unique one. A recent report
of Colonel Clifford. British member of the Anglo-Abys-
sinian Boundary Commission, not only vindicates the
Ethiopians of being belligerent toward Italian outposts
in Africa, but also specifically asserts that the disputed
territory really belongs to Abyssinia and not to Italy.
The emperor of Abyssinia is to be greatly admired
for the firm stand he has taken in this unfortunate affair.
As a ruler over several millions of people, many of
whom are wild, he has assiduously sought to prevent
warfare between his country and any other. He himself
has said that war would destroy all of the social and
economic developments he is so painstakingly endeavor
ing to establish in his empire. So anxious is he about
the intellectual and spiritual betterment of his people
that he not only had the Bible translated into their
tongue, but also saw that modern printing presses were
established in Abyssinia to print this and other hooks.
He gave his beloved country the constitution it enjoys
today.
Whether or not Italy will proceed to “take Abyssinia”
is, I venture to say, in the realm of serious conjecture.
My own opinion is that although Mussolini has been
doing a lot of sabre rattling and loud talking, he will
not be as hot-headedly aggressive as he has been hitherto.
And the reasons are obvious. Abyssinia recently had her
army of 150,000 modernized by a Belgian military mis
sion. The arms and ammunitions held up on her border
were allowed to reach their destination, and, incidentally,
her thousands of warlike tribesmen are rallying to the
inspiring call of nationalism. Again, Italy cannot afford
to risk a long, drawn-out war, because of internal unrest
and the ever silent threat of a watchful Austria and a
now powerful Germany. War with Abyssinia will mean
a war that will he the immediate forerunner of another
World War with all the accompanying horrors. More
over, to all appearances, British attitude lately does not
seem wholeheartedly sympathetic with Italian colonial
aspirations in Africa.
With these circumstances in her favor, together with
the ever rising tide of public opinion against the ruth
less and unethical methods of Italy, it is to be hoped
sincerely that Abyssinia will be given the unbiased sup
port which she deserves from the League.
—W. E. Bvrnel-James.
FROM BEETHOVEN TO CHEWING GUM
It s here at last. The radio has decidedly put to rout
one of the most perplexing problems in the history of
entertaining. There has been no problem greater to the
entertainer than the problem of satisfying his audience;
in fact, it has been his only problem. This is a great
problem because no two people think precisely alike.
In providing entertainments for a group, one’s chief aim
is to satisfy all. Until the radio made its debut in
society this was next to impossible. This was one of
those “Ineffectual Arrows” of thousands of actors, all
striving to reach that unattainable “El Dorado.” But
at last the radio has done it for them. Millions of
people tune in every day . . . and don’t fool yourself;
they are all satisfied customers. Satisfied, because the
voice that drops out of the air has something to interest
every kindred and kind. For those whose ear drums
vibrate only to the frequency of hot rhythm, the radio
has it. The Boswell Sisters, with their closely woven
harmony; the Mills Brothers, with their “Old Rockin’
Chair Got Me;” the hi-de-ho king. Cab Calloway, with
his “St. James Infirmary;” and the great Duke Ellington,
with his enchanting, “Solitude”—all find an appreciative
audience. If you find relish in the imitation and ex
ploitation of a backward people, then tune in on Amos
’n’ Andy, Elder Micheau and his famous radio church
on the banks of the Potomac, and possibly a few others
of that type. Maybe you are interested in religion. If
so, there are Father Coughlin of the Shrine of the Little
Flower at Royal Oak, Michigan; Dr. Fosdick of New
York, and a multitude of other able men in that field.
Or perhaps it is politics that arrests your attention, and
the radio has that. too. Symphony or jazz, politics or
religion, science or invention, education or what not . . .
you can always find it on the radio. Yes, from Beethoven
to chewing gum, it’s on the air. The radio has really
solved the problem . . . don't you think so? Well, don’t
agree with me because I say so; however, 1 just dare
you to purchase a radio. —Luther Franklin Hill.
should he beyond petty tyrannies and unforgiveness;
that is, if it means to “instill in the hearts of youth ’ (we
quote any small school) something that is bigger and
finer than youth itself. Such places receive men and
women (let us say) and turn out children. It seems
difficult, to us, to preach freedom and practice slavery.
And people who are not free are—in some sense—slaves.
But let’s not get off on slavery. You know where that
leads.
We know just enough about the Christian religion to
foolishly believe that any school that sticks a Bible into
your hands and a hymn into your throat ought to be
tactful enough to entertain at least the obvious principles
of the Book it knows nothing of: freedom, forgiveness,
and love. (We said love, not that condescending substi
tute pity.) It should be clever enough to carry through
the things it wants people to believe it believes. One
doesn’t have to he a Christian—much less an institution
—to value that.
However, the whole story might be a pipe-dream or
just something hatched up by the seven ladies to get this
department excited. It really sounds too fantastically
Victorian to be found in our twentieth century set-up;
so we’ll just forget it. Won’t you? Please.