LEAGUE REFORM

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 104, 27 January 1938, Page 9

LEAGUE REFORM

Weaker But BindingPledges ITALIAN CONQUEST “Recognition Decidedly Premature” (British Oflieial Wireless.) Rugby, January 25. Commenting on the forthcoming hundredth session of the League of Nations Council, the “Daily Telegraph” says there is a growing movement among minor Powers in Europe to seek some method of recognition of the Italian conquest of Abyssinia. Such proposals appear to be decidedly premature in British eyes. “There is something ironic,” says the “Telegraph,”. “iu the spectacle of some smaller States which not long ago were urgent in pressing forward condemnation of Italy and the application of sanctions against her now competing in the cordiality of their overtures to an Italy self-expelled from the League.” It adds that further irony may be seen in the choice of the- Council’s hundredth session as an occasion for discussions on reform of the depleted League itself. British and Dominion opinion recognises that the League is. neither dead nor moribund, though its convalescence requires thoughtful treatment. There is no difficulty in seeing that a universal League with theoretically weaker but binding pledges would be superior to a less inclusive League whose pledges were not carried out. “What is'not established.” it says, “is whether a universal League could be established in the near future upon any base whatever, and whether a League diluted in a degree so frequently recommended would have any value for its potential associates." The Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden, left London this morning for the meeting of .the Council. A special meeting of Cabinet was held last night before Mr. Eden’s departure at which it is understood the Foreign Secretary presented a review of the international situation. AMERICAN ATTITUDE No Alteration Made London, January 25. Whitehall discounts a report that President Roosevelt is willing to recognise Italy’s qonquest of Abyssinia if Britain agrees and Italy joins in a general European settlement. It. is stated in official quarters in London that there is no reason to believe that America’s attitude toward Abyssinia has altered since the Secretary of State pronounced on it, and that the British policy similarly has not been revised.