The Evening Star SATURDAY, JULY 4, 1936. SANCTIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 22382, 4 July 1936, Page 14

The Evening Star SATURDAY, JULY 4, 1936. SANCTIONS.

Common sense and a fitting modesty were characteristic of the New Zealand Government’s policy in regard to sanctions as expressed by it through Sir James Parr at, the League’s Assembly. The Government, it was made plain, would have preferred to see sanctions continued. Since it was revealed 1 , however, that very few countries were prepared to support that policy, making continuance an impracticable course, it was content to vote with the majority, including the Governments of Great Britain and France. The case for maintaining sanctions was a logical one. They had failed to stop one war—that of Italy and Abyssinia. But another war was still at issue, that of Italy against the League and the rule of law. A natural argument would he that it was the duty of the League to apply them for this purpose as much as for the first, and with more zeal, but it was certain that that was what the League would not do. To apply them so would have meant the risk of a League war under much more unfavourable circumstances than if that risk had been taken seven months ago, when the conflict, if it hadi arisen, would have been very short. It would have destroyed the prospect of having Mussolini on the League’s side if strife should break out in another quarter, whatever that prospect was worth. “Do we really bdieve,” asked a Radical journal, “ ill Satan casting but Satan?” The League will take risks by abandoning sanctions, leaving Italy with all the profits of this aggression to be- an encouragement to other aggressors. That danger may be diminished, however, if the League’can strengthen itself. There was no talk of New Zealand giving a lead to the . world in the Government’s instructions to its High Commissioner. The fact was recognised that New Zealand was a long way off from Italy and that a continuance of sanctions on its part, costing nothing and effecting nothing, would be the emptiest gesture. In another context a Minister might talk, for home consumption, of this Government “ throwing its light into every home in Europe,” but such rhapsodies could only have made another joke, with less point than M. Litvinoff’s, for the League of Nations. The League will consider how it may strengthen itself in September, which does not stand for any precipitancy in facing tho issue. Delay will matter less because it is not tbs Constitution of the League, but the readiness of its members, all with their own. fears and hopes, to apply it that has been at fault. Mr Savage’s Government values the review that is intended and would have preferred, we can deduce, to see it made earlier. Its vote for the abandonment of sanctions was made dependant on this examination being held. Sir James Parr’s plea that the League should be made universal did not furnish much help in its dark hour. The League would be universal now if that issue rested with itself, but League membership bears no likeness to compulsory unionism. It might be no bad plan which the High Commissioner suggested for all Powers to be invited to the next Assembly, even if only a proportion of those that stand outside the League should come. The decision of the> Government that New Zealand „ shall be more than usually represented at the September gathering is to be approved. The occasion will be historical, and it may be crucial.