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Before dinner M. Laval and Capt. Eden had called on Abyssinia's inky-black Delegate, Pecla Hawariate, at his rooms in the Hotel Des Bergues, had told him what they were doing for his little country and advised him that the least he could do, if war could be averted, was to grant important commercial concessions in Ethiopia to Italy.
Excellent from the Italian point of view was the League's agreement. Made operative under the Italo-Ethiopian Treaty of 1928 it still left Italy more or less free after Aug. 25 to treat as she would with the League. The Italian general staff, skeptical from the beginning of the Abyssinian adventure, had insisted for months that it was useless to advance until the rainy season was over, about Sept. 1. Of course if the arbitrators could reach a definite agreement before Aug. 26, Italy might be obliged to abide by it.
His diplomatic reputation saved, Baron Aloisi went to bed with a huge glass of bicarbonate of soda. Foreign Minister Laval left a call for the first morning train to Paris.