Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1935. THE WAR AND SANCTIONS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 302, 4 October 1935, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1935. THE WAR AND SANCTIONS.

By the opening of hostilities against Abyssinia Italy has endangered the peace not only of Europe but of the whole world. The League of Nations has been flouted and is now faced with the most serious crisis of its existence. Ihe problem is now whether the League will impose sanctions, action involving all State members. The statement that Britain does not intend to take isolated action against a breach of the obligations under the Covenant but is prepared to lead a League campaign against an aggressor nation is a logical position, in keeping with her attitude throughout the discussions and negotiations. She has consistently maintained that the prestige and influence of the League are at stake, and has in plain terms announced her intention to stand firmly by League principles. The relevant terms of the Covenant are not entirely explicit, but they are clear enough to place upon the Council an obligation to consider the use of pressure as a means of thwarting the bellicose purpose of an aggressive State. They provide that, should any member of the League resort to war in disregard of its pacific undertakings, it shall be deemed to have committed an act of war against all other members; these shall thereupon subject it to the severance of all trade or financial relations, the prohibition of all intercourse between their nationals and its nationals, and the prevention of all financial, commercial and personal intercourse between their nationals and the nationals of any other State, whether a member of the League or not. In addition, the Council has the duty in such case to recommend to the several Governments concerned what effective military, naval or air units the members of the League shall severally contribute to the armed forces to be used to protect the Covenants of the League. Into this framework must be fitted the facts of the present case if there is resort to sanctions; the aggressor must be named, the other members must immediately suspend their intercourse with the aggressor and obstruct the intercourse of the aggressor with all other States, and the Council must recommend to all Governments loyal to the League the armed measures they are under obligation to take in support of repressive action. Should the United States co-operate in the imposition of five sanctions, as was the other day reported to be possible, but which now appears doubtful, judging from the latest news, the position of the League would be greatly strengthened, for the aggressor would thus be deprived of a source of considerable supplies and assistance in various ways. The success of sanctions depends upon their operation by adopted by as many nations as possible, ror one nation to act alone would be futile; it would simply mean the diversion of the channel of trade or financial aid, which would seriously affect no one but the lone actor.