Word: zeeland
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...week from his grief-stricken brooding over the death of his beloved Queen Astrid (TIME. Sept. 9, 1935) and strike a heavy blow of statecraft which resounded from one end of Europe to the other. To the neat, bright Royal Palace in Brussels were summoned Premier-Professor Paul van Zeeland and Cabinet to hear an historic declaration reversing the post-War foreign policy of Belgium. By boldly assuming full responsibility for what he said, His Majesty raised his declaration above the cockpit of party politics, placed it on the aloof pedestal of a Throne which every Belgian deeply respects...
Once in the chair, Professor van Zeeland read to the Assembly an extremely long and conciliatory note from Italy most pleasing to Britain. It promised that Il Duce will not raise a great Ethiopian army of conscript blacks -the one thing Britain fears, since with it Italy might upset the balance of power in Africa-and concluded in Benito Mussolini's nearest approach to a dove-cooing vein: "Italy will consider it an honor to inform the League of Nations of the progress achieved in her work of civilizing Ethiopia. . . . Italy views this work as a sacred mission...
Meanwhile Ethiopia's ousted Emperor had quietly entered the Assembly Hall in tropical white tunic and black cape, having checked his broad-brimmed hat outside. His Majesty, taking a seat in the fifth row, sat quietly through van Zeeland's reading of Il Duce's note. He also sat through a long speech by flowery Delegate José María Cantilo of Argentina, the country which had demanded that the Assembly meet on the Ethiopian Question. Harking back to President Hoover's meticulous
Bedlam. Finally Professor van Zeeland called Emperor Haile Selassie, and the bird-like little Ethiopian advanced to the League tribune. As he picked up the 17-page typescript of his speech a nutter of applause stirred in the general gallery. For Italian journalists in the press gallery this was the last straw. Jangle-nerved after months of watching Italy badgered with Sanctions at Geneva, they jumped up, bellowed jeers and curses at the Emperor, screamed "Viva Il Duce...
Ethiopia's No. 2 was a demand that the Assembly vote yes or no on whether $50,000,000 shall be loaned to the Ethiopian Government of Haile Selassie. Professor van Zeeland asked for a poll by vocal roll-call. So visibly ashamed were the League delegates not to vote $50,000,000 into the pockets of the Emperor that 23 said "no" in tones barely audible, 25 maintained shamefaced silence, nine were not present, and only the Emperor's doughty General Ras Nassibu shouted out the solitary "YES!" for Justice and $50,000,000. At this result...