PUBLIC FEELING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 245, 16 October 1935, Page 7

PUBLIC FEELING.

AGAINST BRITAIN. Deliberately Stirred Up in Italy. MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S CHARGE. British Official Wireless. (Received 2 p.m.) RUGBY, October 15. Mr. Neville Chamberlain, Chancellor of the Exchequer, speaking at Glasgow, referred to the tremendous issues now being debated at Geneva. The astonishing demonstration of agreement there had come about because of the realisation that there were fundamental issues at stake, that the old system of alliances and the balance of power had gone, and in its place the League was the only instrument to which they could look to give security against war. The League was an imperfect instrument, but there was enough left of it to make it a very formidable body to offend if its members chose to take collective and effective action. If the League was enabled sufficiently to exert its authority to limit or shorten the struggle in Africa it would inspire such new confidence and earn such new respect that its powers for preserving peace wquld be multiplied indefinitely. If the League were to abdicate its function under the Covenant, however, every weak nation would first begin to arm and then to seek an alliance with its strongest neighbour, and before long the peace of Europe would be at the mercy of the biggest and strongest Powers. II Duce Misses the Point. Mr. Chamberlain said that he had no reason to doubt Signor Mussolini had said that whatever happened he did not intend to injure the interests of Britain, but in putting that forward Signor Mussolini missed the whole point. He had not apparently understood that it was possible for a nation to think not of its immediate direct interest but of the ultimate object which is to be gained, and in which that nation has only a share in common with all its fellow members of the League. "We admitted that Italy may reasonably entertain a desire for expansion. We professed our readiness to help her to secure legitimate ambitions so long as she did that without resort to war. Even now, when she has begun hostilities, we have never withdrawn those words, and we have not sought in any way to close the door which a little while ago we sought to open to her. Britain Sir.gled Out. "In spite of that we seem to have been singled out for special resentment, and I am sure the feelings of Italians have been further embittered, and their hostility deliberately directed against this country by those in authority. "I can only say that we cannot be turned from our purpose by any reproaches of that character—reproaches which are without any justification whatever, for indeed the issues are far too big, for the choice before us is whether we shall make a last effort at Geneva for peace and security, or whether by cowardly surrender we shall break the promise we made and hold ourselves up .to the shame of our children and their children's children."