BREACH OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

Evening Post, Volume 55, Issue 55, 3 September 1923, Page 7

BREACH OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

LONDON, Ist September. / The "Daily Telegraph's" diplomatic correspondent says: "The"ltalian action at Corfu certainly constitutes a, grave breach of international law to which Britain cannot remain indifferent Under Article 11. of the treaty of *>9th March, 1864, it was declared that the islands of Corfu and Pavo would enjoy perpetual neutrality. I hinted yesterday that Italy was credited with harbouring secret designs on Corfu, but refused to believe that such a, ! sinister motive was behind the Italian indignation over the assassinations. Th» occupation, however, is now an accomplished fact-. Its inevitable result will be to place a most serious strain upon international relations and even on An<*loItahan relations. Britain could not afford to remain indifferent to the foreign occupation of Corfu, first, because she is one of the guarantors of its neutrality; secondly, because Corfu is in a strategic position which might be easily misused by any but a small Power. By its seizure Signor Mussolini is in eftect, challenging an internationl settlement of signal importance to British sea power, as also to the military security of Greece arid Albania, and Serbia, for-Serbia- cannot fail to grasp that the ultimate objective of such an occupation would be contrary to her vital interests, bignor Mussolini is creating for his country a future as perilous as that created for the Austro-Hungarian v monarchy "by its ultimatum to Serbia. Nor is this all. Italy, by occupation <of Corfu, has already defied the League of JVations, There is no need to' point oui that a conflagration, once started would spread to the whole of Danubian Europe, where -ex-Allies and ex-enemies, for instance, Bulgaria and Hungary, might quickly become involved and embroiled "