"SLOW DEATH."

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 139, 13 June 1936, Page 14

"SLOW DEATH."

ITALY AND SANCTIONS.

MAY YET LEAD TO WAR.

a TIME TO THINK HARD."

(By SALVATORE LO GIUDICE.)

Sanctions are hated in Italy with intense bitterness. The whole nation

is crying havoc against them, and the whole Italian Press is fighting this injustice by printing not the date of the day and month of the year, but, as for example: "203 rd Day of the Economic Boycott." Sanctions represent for Italy a ring of iron, and unless that ring is not broken, or removed, Europe will fatally sail toward the most terrible and the most unjustifiable war ever known bv mankind.

Unless 011 June 30 the League of Nation agrees to. give a complete heading to Italy's case, a grave turn of events may be expected, because Italy, on annexing Kthiopia, has closed a page of history, and now, for better reasons, lias set out to make peace with all. Thus there has been created a moral question which the more or less violent supporters of sanctions have to consider. They have to choose between a reality of peace and a period of virulent reprisals.

Just now at Rome high hopes are placed on the prospect that the League will listen to Baron Aloisi's new exposition of facts, although it is still a matter to be decided by the Fascist Grand Council whether Italy will negotiate at all while sanctions are still wounding Italian sentiment, as well as upsetting industrial balance. Above all, what Signor Mussolini wishes to avoid is a repetition of Mr. Anthony Eden s solidary stand; not for political fears perhaps, but because, if Mr. Eden is to inspire a course i never mediated by Italy, Rome will have to retailiate by asking the outside world what better right Britain had to expand all over the world than Italy has to take 111 400.000 square miles in East Africa.

The Moral Aspect. Aa things are firm opposition by Britain, for no matter how admirable u reason, is bound to irritate Fascism. If nothing else, a virulent controversy will flourish. And since the Ethiopian question has wounded Britain more than it did Ethiopia itself, Italy will only yield back Ethiopia to Ethiopians when Britain gives her an example by returning India to Indians, Maorilaiul to Maoris, and South Africa to aboriginals. A conquest by one nation in need of the principal raw materials can only be stopped when the more abundant and powerful empires yield their lot for a common betterment, rather than individual self-preservation. Sanctions are regarded not so much as an obstacle to Italian industry and commerce as a penalty imposed from foreign sources—particularly by those which, because of their prosperity, have least need to grumble. Italian resentment against the behaviour of Mr. Anthony Eden is sharpened by the total lack of interest which the British Foreign Minister displays towards other world events, which at Koine are regarded more to the disfavour of Britain than the Ethiopian conflict has been made out to appear. The RJiineland reconquest and the tenacious march of Japan upon China are two important happenings from which the Fascists are lighting their martial torches. Italy is wondering what stops Mr. Eden from advising an application of sancr.tci.s against two other violators of the Covenant. Hatred of Mr. Eden.

Because Mr. Eden's interest has been confined to retaliation against Italy, at Home it would please all if this young diplomat were removed from that office and his place filled by a more experienced figure, preferably Mr. Lloyd George or Sir John Simon. There is in Italy a widespread belief that Mr. Eden

sought to make himself famous by overthrowing Fascism, and this is fiercely resented, because particularly in Italy 110 one, not ei'eu the most violent antiFascist. wishes to witness a repetition of those bloodshedding events which were experienced during 1919-1922. As a result, as long as Mr. Eden indulges in playing the same serenade, the Italian foreign policy will protect itself by matching his blows one by one until Britons will fully realise that the ItaloBritisli friendship is more valuable to Britain than Ethiopia was to Ethiopians.

On the other hand, Mr. Eden's professed determination to unroot war from the annals of history placed him at Geneva in the most critical position ever faced by any diplomat, except Mussolini himself. Britain's cry of collective security met its Waterloo when theevents awoke the delegates of the League to the fact that the Ethiopian conflict had resolved itself into a clash between Italian and British Imperialism. Thus the most important factors were not at the hands of the League; they rested in possession of Mr. Eden and Mussolini, and as a result all those who at first had consented to apply sanctions not only regretted their decision, but many a Government tried to show good will to Italy by fighting applied sanctions through the medium of contraband. German-Japanese-Italian Alliance? Just now Mussolini is very anxious to restore Italo-Britisli friendship to its former basis because within this realistic fact the destinies of both Italy and Britain are strictly bound. Ethiopia's rights and wrongs mo longer count, as far as Italy and European events are concfirned. That book is closed, and unless this fact is kept in mind the impending events will turn ■out to be bare and cold historical tragedy. The Fascists cannot be expected to continue to accept sanctions without action. 011 the contrary, should common reason and patience fail to attain what Italy seeks to make others understand, the only way for her to rid herself from the economic boycott which for her means nothing less than slow death, will be either through some desperate . resolution, or by helping to divide Europe in two armed camps. Germany and Japan are anxious that Italy'should not be humiliated by a continuation of sanctions. The late test of Mussolini's might before the world has inspired those two nations to win Italy, in some 'way, at their side. With German brain, Japanese strength and Italian key position in the Mediterranean, the rest of the world, and particularly Britain, would have something to think about. .There will be no escape from this amalgamation should Britain still let Mr. Eden attempt to . crush Fascist Italy. It will mean not 1 only the downfall of the League of Nations, but the whole of civilisation. It is time to think hard before it is too late. ,