RISK OF SANCTIONS

Evening Star, Issue 21721, 16 May 1934, Page 9

RISK OF SANCTIONS

WAR MIGHT FOLLOW LORD LOTHIAN’S VIEWS LONDON, May 3. The Marquess of Lothian, in a letter to ‘The Times' on disarmament problems, points out _ the probability of war following coercive sanctions against a great Power by anything less than a world coalition. . V - • . . Lord Lothian asks whether Britain could commit herself to. effective regional guarantees without tho endorsement of the dominions and the United States. Her only instrument would be the Navy, reinforced by long-distance bombers. ... The dominions, if they did not participate in a guarantee, would be forced to declare for war or for neutrality, and the Navy, in the latter event, could not use their ports as bases. , The employment of sea power to interupt commerce had always produced dangerous quarrels between Britain and America. - , .

If Britain’s European opponent were associated with an Asiatic Power would the dominions fronting tire Pacific look for security to a Britain entangled in. Europe or to a neutral America with an unengaged fleet in the Pacific? In a leading article, commenting on Lord Lothian’s letter, ‘The .Times'• says the bold departure froih tradition entailed by the Locarno Treaty was the bolder because it omitted to bind any part of the Empire, except the European part. The British nations were most unlikely to go further.