Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1935. MENACE OF THE WAR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 303, 5 October 1935, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1935. MENACE OF THE WAR.

The opening of hostilities in Abyssinia has brought upon Europe in particular and the world in general the most serious crisis since 1914. Signor Mussolini has for long expressed determination to gain his objective even at the cost of war, but there were hopes that the intervention of the League and the gathering adverse world opinion would cause him to stop short pf the' final act. These hopes have been shattered and the best that can be expected is that the conflict will be a short one and that it will be confined to the two countries. The action that the League may take need not be discussed at the moment; developments must take place quickly. The aspect that calls for present consideration is the menace that the struggle, however short, and however localised, carries against the world in the future. Should the Abyssinians be defeated and the Italians achieve the declared objective of Mussolini there will be an act the injustice of \Vhich will be recognised throughout the world. The one aim is to seize by force territory for colonisation, for the condemnation of the Ethiopians as a barbaric race that should be disciplined and placed under strict control is merely an excuse to bolster up a bad cause. If the Ethiopians should gain the day and repel the invaders the injustice would be prevented, but the ultimate result might be even more disastrous. The dispute has already created unrest among many of the native peoples of Africa, even the South African Union not being free from all influence. The defeat of the Italians, representing, in the eyes of the Africans, the entire white race, would create a widespread idea that the power of the European nations was declining and would tend to encourage antagonism and perhaps revolt. Thus Britain, acting traditionally in the interests of world peace, has particular reasons for striving to the utmost to bring about a settlement. Undoubtedly the beneficence of British ruli has attached the native races to her in a manner that is in striking contrast to the position in the African possessions of other countries, but the influence of a general movement cannot fail to have its effect even on the most contented, most loyal of the natives. On the other hand, defeat of Abyssinia Would possibly create a spirit of resentment that might in the more or less distant future have direful sequel. Mussolini has.appealed to France and Britain not to destroy him and the peace of the world, but it is he who has raised the menace. ,