The Ethiopian Campaign and French Political Thought

Chapter Twelve: 7 March 1936

81 At the mom ent of w riting these last lin es, the Italian armies have just won important victories; thousands of men are dead; the League of Nations is trying one last effort at reconciliation; Great Britain has confirmed its resolution, in case of the failure of this effort, to pursue the strengthening of sanctions. Now suddenly the focus of universal anxiety has shifted: the Hitler government broke the Treaty of Locarno and reestablished its military power on the left bank of the Rhine; at the same time, it proposed, under certain conditions, to re-enter the League of Nations. Chapter Twelve 7 M a rc h 1936 82 | The Ethiopian Campaign and French Political Thought Any prediction now would be overbold; all Europe fears catastrophes before long; if we do not want to compromise our last chances for safety, this is more than ever the time to impose silence on our passions. In such circumstances, everything that might come to trouble our lucidity of judgment would give another chance to the most immense evils that threaten us. Silence then for the party spirit, silence for nationalist passion, for anti-Fascist passion; silence for hatred, even hatred that takes as its object indisputable criminals. All political agility will be powerless if it is not ruled by a clear-seeing and honest interior attitude. It is with respect to a problem of interior attitude that this book has been written; it has no other end than to contribute , if it pleases God, to the rectifying of French consciences in the love of truth, justice, and peace. ...