Lion Incognito

So far as Benito Mussolini was concerned last week, his colonies of Eritrea, Italian Somaliland and newly-conquered Ethiopia ceased to exist separately. With swift strokes he divided his East African domain into five autonomous provinces under the supervision of Viceroy Pietro Badoglio in the new capital, Addis Ababa. The new provinces and their capitals: Eritrea (Asmara); Amhara (Gondar); Harar (Harar), Somaliland (Mogadiscio); Galla & Sidamo (Gimma). Il Duce also promised religious freedom to Moslems of his domain, returned the Ethiopian Coptic Christian Church to its old Egyptian affiliation.

Meanwhile in Gibraltar last week sad little Haile Selassie disembarked from the cruiser Capetown, waited quietly in the Rock Hotel for the liner Orford to take him to England. The British Government avoided unnecessary trouble with Italy by announcing that the bearded Lion of Judah would travel to England incognito, would receive no royal honors. For Saturday breakfast Haile Selassie looked with disfavor at a plate of kippered herring, called instead for bacon & eggs, U. S. style.

Later in cutaway coat and striped trousers he wandered sadly down the hotel corridor. Before him a buxom Spanish charwoman was on her hands and knees scrubbing the floor. For three full minutes he stared solemnly at her healthy Andalusian contours, then a slow smile spread over the little Emperor's face. He fished in his pocket, produced a crisp -L-5 note.

"I was delightfully entertained," said Haile Selassie, and drove down the hill to take cocktails on the battle cruiser Hood.

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