MOB LAW.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 260, 2 November 1928, Page 6

MOB LAW.

The Italian Consul in Melbourne has complained to the Australian Government regarding the bomb outrages of which his countrymen have been the victims. "This is the fifth attempt," he says, "on the lives of my people. I therefore demand full satisfaction for my countrymen. Mv Government is not disposed "to tolerate failure adequately to protect Italians resident in Australia." This strong language recalls the following precedent: In the year 1890 eleven Italians were taken out of the public prison in New Orleans and lynched, not by a mob, but by a concourse headed by the leading citizens. They were accused of being parties to the assassination of the local chief of police, which had taken place shortly before. They had received no proper trial, and there was no doubt that some of them at least were innocent. The Italian Government, through its Consul in New Orleans, protested vigorously against this outrage, asserting that "only its friendship for the United States prevented it from sending a warship to the Mississippi." The United States Government, while deploring the outrage, maintained that it was not : responsible for the acts of the State Government. To this the Italian Government retorted that they were quite aware that the Federal Government took no responsibility for the acts of the State authorities, but that they were debarred from entering into direct diplomatic relations with the State of Louisiana and could therefore only appeal to the Federal Government. The American Government finally recognised the logic of this argument and paid an indemnity to the families of the murdered men. The Italian Government accepted this as satisfactory. In view of this impasse, the question arises in how far the British Government is responsible for the Australian outrages. Doubtless the Commonwealth claims the right to deal direct with the Government of Italy. But if the matter should lead to diplomatic complications the Home Government could not remain indifferent. Let us suppose (though this is so remote a contingency as to be imaginary) that Italy declared war on Australia. What attitude would the British Government adopt? The question of States Rights is one which provoked a great civil war" in America. It is well that the status of the selfgoverning Dominions in such a contingency should be definitely defined, as well as the rights and duties of the Mother Country. J.D.L