NO ISOLATED ACTION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 300, 2 October 1935, Page 5

NO ISOLATED ACTION.

THE INTENTIONS OF BRITAIN.

LEADING LEAGUE CRUSADE, (Received This Day, 1.40 p.m.) LONDON, October 1. Great Britain has no intention of taking isolated action against Italy. Believing that the League’s prestige and influence are at stake, carrying with it the peaceful solution of future international problems, slio is. prepared to . lead a League crusade against an aggressive nation, but is not carrying full responsibility. It is impossible for France, who is leaning heavily on the League toy future? protection, to expect Britain to pledge action in a hypothetical case unless she is willing to act whole-heartedly in a concrete case such as is before the League now. A question often asked is, why Britain is keenly interested in whereas apparently indifferent to Japanese action in Manchuria, Britain’s answer is that in the case of Manchuria collective action was impossible, owing to the stand by America- and Russia-; in the present case action is possible, League members i-ealising that the leakage from League ideals must stop. Even in the. present situation the League is concerned over the attitude of non-members, such as Germany and America, inasmuch as action by them would possibly nullify the League’s imposing of sanctions. No official questions have been asked, but members appear satisfied with the attitude, believing that America recognises the League, and the importance of peace, while Germany sees the unwisdom of inviting the disapproval of League members by anti-League action. Britain’s stand is simply : “We are not anti-Italian; we are prepared to support the League against aggression. Stand in with us in support of the League, and the crisis will be survived. Desert us and we refuse to take lone action. At the same time Britain is issuing the warning: “We believe the crossroads have been reached at which League members must face the challenge or accept the break-up of collective security and world peac-e.

RELIANCE ON FRANCE.

PENDING OFFICIAL DECISION

(Received This Day, '12.20 p.m.) PARIS, October 1

Important discussions have taken place between M. Laval and the British Ambassador to Paris (Sir Rupert Clark) regarding the possibility of an attack on Blritain in the-Mediterranean, in the event of the League using sanctions against Italy' and the British Fleet implementing sanctions. The French Cabinet will define France’s action when it meets on Friday. Meanwhile Britain believes herself justified in fully relying on French support.

OBSERVERS’ DIFFICULTIES.

TEN WEEKS BY CARAVAN

LONDON, Sept. ,30. The Addis Ababa correspondent of the “Daily Mail” throws new light on the League’s project of sending observers to Abyssinia, by pointing out that

they could not land __at Massawa, but must travel from Djibouti to Addis Ababa, thence to the frontier by caravan, occupying 10 weeks to reach Adowa.